Engineer Advances Infrastructure as Code Practices in Major Corporations

Written by Chloe Jane
Photo Courtesy of Viney Khokar

“Infrastructure as Code is not just a technology; it’s a new approach changing how we manage and scale IT infrastructure,” says Viney Khokar, principal engineer at SAP. “It applies software engineering principles to infrastructure management, allowing us to automate, standardize, and optimize more effectively.”

Khokar’s Infrastructure as Code (IaC) work helps businesses automate and simplify their operations, making IT management more efficient and scalable.

From Manual Configuration to Code-Driven Infrastructure

Traditional approaches to infrastructure management, which rely on manual configurations and ad-hoc processes, are becoming obsolete. IaC offers a programmatic method to provision and manage IT infrastructure, representing a massive shift in this field.

Khokar is guiding this initiative at SAP, using his experience with tools like Terraform, Ansible, and Jenkins. “We’re moving beyond manual scripting to use declarative languages and version-controlled infrastructure definitions,” he says. “This shift allows us to apply software engineering principles to infrastructure management, ensuring consistency, reducing errors, and improving scalability.”

This offers benefits like increased deployment speed, reduced operational costs, and improved compliance. Codifying infrastructure allows companies to version control their environments, track changes, and revert to previous states if issues arise—capabilities that were difficult with traditional methods.

Khokar also works on infrastructure projects such as data (IaD) and GitHub actions, further advancing automation. These initiatives bring new efficiency and flexibility to cloud infrastructure management, transforming how enterprises handle their IT operations.

Viney Khokar’s Journey: Leading IaC in Enterprise Environments

Khokar’s journey to becoming a leader in IaC is notable. With a Master’s degree in Computer Application from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and a Bachelor’s in the same field, he built a strong base for his career in IT.

He started at Techbooks International in New Delhi, then gained experience at Hewlett-Packard and Fujitsu Consulting before joining SAP Americas in 2016. This varied experience across different organizations has given him a unique perspective on enterprise IT needs and challenges.

“Each role and certification has been a stepping stone,” Khokar reflects. “They’ve given me a broad view of IT infrastructure, from on-premises systems to multi-cloud environments. This range of experience is crucial when implementing IaC at scale.”

Advancing IaC Practices in Major Corporations

At SAP, Khokar has advanced IaC practices throughout the organization. He works in key areas, developing automation tasks for SAP’s Lines of Business and designing secure operating system images.

“Our focus on multi-cloud infrastructure as code has been transformative,” Khokar explains. “Using Terraform to manage infrastructure across platforms like Google Cloud Platform and SAP Converged Cloud ensures consistent, repeatable deployments. This approach enhances efficiency and reduces the risk of configuration errors.”

Khokar’s team automates the setup of SAP HANA systems on Google Cloud using a tool called Red Hat Pacemaker. This process makes it easier to manage and maintain these complex systems. “We’ve automated the deployment of SAP HANA on clusters, ensuring the system runs smoothly and can replicate data for backup,” he notes. This means the systems are more efficient and reliable, with less manual work needed. For Khokar, turning infrastructure into code ensures that every setup meets security standards and best practices.

Guiding Businesses Through Digital Transformation Challenges

As one of the first Red Hat Enterprise Certified Engineers globally, Khokar helped transition the industry from proprietary Unix systems to open-source Linux. “IaC adoption leads to faster deployment times, reduced operational costs, and improved compliance,” Khokar notes. “More importantly, it allows IT teams to focus on advancing rather than maintenance.”

The IT industry continues to grow, with trends like edge computing and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven infrastructure management on the horizon. Khokar’s ongoing projects in Infrastructure as Data and GitHub Actions aim to streamline deployment processes, enhance collaboration, and improve cloud infrastructure management.

Khokar also demonstrates leadership in the IT community. He has served as a judge for an information technology event, sharing his expertise and helping shape the industry’s future. This role highlights his advanced skills in cloud automation and infrastructure management.

Khokar's contributions are timely and essential, especially now that companies face the multifaceted challenges of digital transformation, such as integrating new technologies, managing legacy systems, and addressing skill gaps. His contributions will help shape the future of the IT industry and offer practical solutions for businesses striving to remain competitive in a changing digital world.

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