diff --git a/.github/workflows/ansible-configure-if-vm.yml b/.github/workflows/ansible-configure-if-vm.yml
index 6357a10e..84fd8a8f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ansible-configure-if-vm.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ansible-configure-if-vm.yml
@@ -73,12 +73,42 @@ jobs:
           output_file: ansible/inventory.ini
 
 
-      # - name: Template Ansible vars file
-      #   uses: cuchi/jinja2-action@v1.2.2
-      #   with:
-      #     template: ansible/templates/group_vars_all.yml.j2
-      #     output_file: ansible/group_vars/all.yml
+      - name: Template Ansible vars file
+        uses: cuchi/jinja2-action@v1.2.2
+        with:
+          template: ansible/templates/group_vars_all.yml.j2
+          output_file: ansible/group_vars/all.yml
+
+      - name: Install Ansible and add SSH key for connection
+        run: |
+          pip3 install ansible
+          ansible-playbook --version
+          eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
+          chmod 600 ansible/ansible_ssh_key
+          ssh-add ansible_ssh_key
+
+      - name: Test connection to air-gapped VM (needed populate known_hosts file)
+        if: env.VM_ENV == 'air-gapped' # -> TODO: remove condition when devel env is no longer needed
+        run: |
+          ssh_command="ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no azureadmin@${JUMPHOST_IP} 'ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no azureadmin@${RUNNER_HOST_IP} whoami'"
+          eval $ssh_command
+
+      - name: Configure VM with ansible
+        run: |
+          cd ansible
+          ansible-playbook configure-image-factory-vm.yml
 
+      # # - name: Configure VM with ansible
+      # #   run: |
+      # #     cd ansible
+      # #     cat inventory.ini
+
+      # #     ssh-add ansible_ssh_key
+      # #     ssh_command="ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no azureadmin@${JUMPHOST_IP} 'ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no azureadmin@${RUNNER_HOST_IP} whoami'"
+      # #     eval $ssh_command
+      # #     ansible-playbook configure-image-factory-vm.yml
+
+      # OLD
       # - name: Install Ansible
       #   run: |
       #     pip3 install ansible
@@ -93,4 +123,4 @@ jobs:
       # #     ssh-add ansible_ssh_key
       # #     ssh_command="ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no azureadmin@${JUMPHOST_IP} 'ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no azureadmin@${RUNNER_HOST_IP} whoami'"
       # #     eval $ssh_command
-      # #     ansible-playbook configure-image-factory-vm.yml
+      # #     ansible-playbook configure-image-factory-vm.yml
\ No newline at end of file