Resources: Terraform, GitHub, and Jamf Configurations

A crash course guide for Mac admins looking to move from manual configuration ("ClickOps") to automated, version-controlled infrastructure management using Terraform and GitOps workflows.

Part 1: Understanding the Fundamentals

Before diving into Jamf-specific implementations, it's essential to understand the core concepts that make Infrastructure as Code valuable.

What is Version Control?

Version control is the foundation of modern software development—and now, infrastructure management. If you're new to these concepts, start here:

What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?

Infrastructure as Code means managing and provisioning infrastructure through code instead of manual processes. Rather than clicking through a UI to configure settings, you define your desired state in configuration files.

Why IaC Matters

IaC Learning Resources

What is GitOps?

GitOps extends IaC by using Git as the single source of truth for your infrastructure. All changes flow through Git—via pull requests with peer review—and automated systems ensure your live environment matches what's defined in your repository.

The GitOps Workflow

1. Developer proposes change via Pull Request
2. Team reviews and discusses the change
3. Automated checks validate the configuration
4. Change is approved and merged
5. Automation applies the change to the live system
6. Continuous monitoring ensures state matches Git

Key GitOps Benefits

GitOps Learning Resources

What is Terraform?

Terraform is HashiCorp's open-source Infrastructure as Code tool. It uses a declarative configuration language (HCL) to define resources, and works with virtually any platform that has an API—including Jamf.

Terraform Concepts

Terraform Learning Resources

Part 2: IaC for Jamf - Introduction

Now that you understand the fundamentals, let's look at how these concepts apply specifically to Jamf environments.

Jamf + IaC Introductory Content

If you're completely new to applying IaC concepts to Jamf, start here:

Podcast / Video Introduction

Blog Posts

Part 3: JNUC 2025 Sessions

Conference sessions covering real-world implementations and advanced use cases:

Part 4: Terraform Providers for Jamf

Terraform providers are plugins that enable Terraform to interact with specific platforms. Here are the providers available for Jamf products:

Terraform Providers

Part 5: Community Resources & Starter Projects

These resources, created by Jamf employees and community members, provide practical examples and templates:

Blog Posts

Starter Templates

Part 6: Suggested Learning Path

For Complete Beginners (No Git/IaC Experience)

1. Learn Git basics — Complete one of the Git tutorials above
2. Understand IaC concepts — Read the AWS or Red Hat IaC explainers
3. Watch the intro — Jamf After Dark "I Have No Idea What Terraform Is"
4. Read the "why" — Jamf Blog on ClickOps to GitOps
5. Try Terraform — Complete a basic HashiCorp tutorial (Docker or cloud provider)

For Those Familiar with Git/DevOps

1. Read the Jamf blogs — ClickOps to GitOps + GitOps Workflows
2. Watch JNUC sessions — Pick the one most relevant to your environment
3. Clone a starter repo — Try terraform-jamfpro-starter
4. Experiment in a test environment — Never start with production!

For Those Ready to Implement

1. Review provider documentation — Understand available resources
2. Plan your state management — Consider HCP Terraform Cloud for team collaboration
3. Define your workflow — Establish PR review processes and CI/CD pipelines
4. Start small — Begin with a few resources, expand gradually
5. Document everything — Your future self will thank you

Quick Reference: The Value Proposition

Additional Resources

Official Documentation

• Terraform Documentation
• Terraform Registry — Search for providers and modules
• Git Documentation

General IaC Best Practices

• Terraform Best Practices
• GitOps Best Practices (Codefresh)

Certifications

• Hashicorp: Infrastructure
  Automation Certifications

Last updated: February 2026