diff --git a/ansible/ansible.cfg b/ansible/ansible.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56620fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/ansible.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[defaults]
+inventory            = inventory.ini
+roles_path           = roles
+collections_path     = collections
+interpreter_python   = auto_silent
+stdout_callback      = yaml
+retry_files_enabled  = False
+host_key_checking    = True
+forks                = 10
+# vault_password_file = .vault_pass   # uncomment in Stage 2
+
+[ssh_connection]
+pipelining = True
+ssh_args   = -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPersist=300s