Terraform for Multi-Cloud Strategy: Design, Split & Share Infra Across Providers

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Why Multi-Cloud with Terraform Works So Well

Terraform uses providers — plugins that let it talk to cloud APIs. You can configure multiple providers in one project:

provider "aws" {
  region = "us-east-1"
}

provider "google" {
  project = "my-gcp-project"
  region  = "us-central1"
}

✅ Terraform knows which resources belong to which provider
✅ You can isolate state, use different modules, and manage infra consistently
✅ No need for separate tools or DSLs

Best Practices for Multi-Cloud Terraform Architecture

1. Split by Cloud Provider

Structure your project so that each cloud has its own directory/module:

infra/
├── aws/
│   ├── main.tf
│   ├── provider.tf
├── gcp/
│   ├── main.tf
│   ├── provider.tf

✅ Cleaner separation
✅ Easier state management
✅ Modular deploys and ownership

2. Use Aliased Providers for Dual Cloud Access

When using multiple providers in the same root, alias them:

provider "google" {
  alias  = "gcp_us"
  region = "us-central1"
}

resource "google_compute_instance" "web" {
  provider = google.gcp_us
  name     = "multi-cloud-instance"
  # ...
}

3. Use Separate State Files Per Cloud

Avoid shared state across providers:

• Better security boundaries

• Safer applies

• Easier troubleshooting

Configure different S3/GCS/Blob backends:

backend "s3"     // For AWS
backend "gcs"    // For GCP

Hands-On: Deploy in AWS + GCP Simultaneously

Step 1: Configure Providers

provider "aws" {
  region = "us-east-1"
}

provider "google" {
  region  = "us-central1"
  project = "my-gcp-project"
}

Step 2: Define Resources

resource "aws_s3_bucket" "storage" {
  bucket = "my-multi-cloud-bucket"
}

resource "google_storage_bucket" "gcp_bucket" {
  name     = "gcp-multicloud-bucket"
  location = "US"
}

Avoid These Common Pitfalls

When Not to Go Multi-Cloud (Yet)

❌ When you don't have a clear business case
 ❌ When team maturity doesn’t support it
 ❌ When compliance/security boundaries are undefined
 ❌ When DR or cost optimization can be handled in-region or cross-account instead

Terraform makes it possible but that doesn’t mean it’s always the right move.

💡 Tip of the Day:

📚 Resources & References

1️⃣ Terraform Provider Configuration
🔗 Docs
How to use multiple and aliased providers.

2️⃣GCP & AWS Provider Docs
🔗 GCP
🔗 AWS

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