How Ansible helped a Tier 1 Service Provider automate IT operations
Ansible is a powerful tool for IT automation that can simplify complex tasks, improve efficiency, and enhance security. In this blog post, we will share how we used Ansible to implement a standardized enterprise-wide automation platform across 5000 nodes for a large Tier 1 service provider.

The Challenge:

The service provider had a heterogeneous IT environment with different operating systems, middleware, tools, and network devices. They wanted to automate various operations such as event-driven remediation, tools installation, middleware configuration, log management, network configuration, security hardening, and patching. However, they faced several challenges such as:

– Lack of a common automation platform that could support multiple technologies and use cases

– High operational costs and manual efforts due to repetitive and error-prone tasks

– Low visibility and control over the IT infrastructure and its performance

– High security and compliance risks due to inconsistent configurations and outdated patches

The Solution:

We proposed Ansible as the solution for the service provider’s automation needs. Ansible is an open-source tool that uses a simple and declarative language (YAML) to define automation workflows. Ansible can run on any machine that has Python installed and can communicate with remote hosts via SSH or WinRM. Ansible also has a large collection of modules and roles that can handle various tasks for different technologies.

We designed and implemented a standardized enterprise-wide automation platform using Ansible that could support the following use cases:

– Event-driven automation: We configured Ansible to monitor the logs of the IT systems and trigger appropriate actions based on predefined rules. For example, if a log indicated a disk space issue, Ansible would automatically free up some space by deleting temporary files. If the issue was not resolved, Ansible would create a ticket for an L1 engineer to investigate further.

– Tools installation: We used Ansible to automate the installation of various tools such as backup software, logstash, etc. on the IT systems. We also ensured that the tools were configured according to the best practices and standards of the service provider.

– Middleware installation and configuration: We used Ansible to automate the installation and configuration of WebSphere middleware on the IT systems. We also ensured that the middleware was updated with the latest patches and security fixes.

– Log management: We used Ansible to automate the installation and configuration of logstash on the IT systems. Logstash is a tool that can collect, parse, filter, and forward logs from various sources to a central location. We also configured logstash to send alerts to Ansible if any anomalies or errors were detected in the logs.

– Network automation: We used Ansible to automate the configuration of firewall rules on the network devices. We also ensured that the firewall rules were consistent and compliant with the service provider’s policies.

– Security hardening: We used Ansible to automate the security hardening of the operating systems on the IT systems. We applied various security measures such as disabling unnecessary services, enforcing password policies, enabling firewall rules, etc.

The Benefits:

By using Ansible, we were able to deliver a standardized enterprise-wide automation platform that brought several benefits to the service provider such as:

– Reduced operational costs and manual efforts by automating complex and repetitive tasks

– Improved efficiency and productivity by reducing errors and downtime

– Improved visibility and control over the IT infrastructure and its performance by generating unified reports and audits

– Reduced security and compliance risks by ensuring consistent configurations and updated patches

Conclusion:

Ansible is a versatile tool that can help any organization automate their IT operations. Whether it is event-driven automation, tools installation, middleware configuration, log management, network automation, security hardening, or patching, Ansible can handle it all with ease.
If you are looking for a reliable partner to help you implement Ansible in your IT environment, contact us today.