What role does AWS CloudFormation play in resource provisioning?

AWS CloudFormation plays a crucial role in resource provisioning by allowing users to define and provision AWS infrastructure using code templates. This approach is known as Infrastructure as Code (IaC), which enables developers and operations teams to manage and deploy resources in a consistent and repeatable manner. By writing templates in a simple and declarative format, users can specify all the resources they need, such as EC2 instances, S3 buckets, and networking components, along with their configurations.

This capability simplifies the process of creating and managing complex infrastructure setups, as it eliminates the need for manual configuration. Instead, users can version control these templates, share them with team members, and automate deployments, making infrastructure management more efficient and reducing the potential for human error.

In contrast, other options focus on distinct features not associated with AWS CloudFormation. For instance, a data storage service or monitoring solutions are provided by different AWS offerings, and security controls are typically implemented using AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) or AWS security services rather than being a core function of CloudFormation.