In 2025, managing infrastructure manually is seen as creating unnecessary technical debt, making Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) indispensable for modern operations. Traditional IaC learning paths often fall short by focusing too much on syntax and basic concepts, leading to inefficiencies and technical debt. Instead, adopting eight essential practices—such as mastering scalable resource naming, structuring code like production environments, thinking in reusable modules, and protecting state files—can streamline IaC processes. These practices are enhanced by using modern platforms like Firefly, which automate and standardize infrastructure management through tools such as automated state monitoring, CI/CD pipelines, and AI-powered infrastructure management, enabling teams to build secure, production-ready infrastructure quickly and efficiently. The emphasis is on reducing configuration drift and undocumented changes, ensuring that infrastructure is versioned, tested, and deployed consistently across environments, ultimately increasing team velocity and operational reliability.