Future-proofing your cloud with Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Migrating to Infrastructure as Code (IaC) isn’t just about automation—it’s about creating a scalable, resilient, and secure cloud environment, with the added benefit of streamlining processes and improving operational efficiency.

By adopting the right IaC strategy, businesses can prevent configuration drift, security risks, and operational inefficiencies while ensuring compliance with best practices.

But how do you detect, prevent, and remediate IaC drift and the security risks and operational inefficiencies which stem from it? Let’s explore the hidden challenges of drift and how to keep your IaC environment in sync.

The problem of IaC drift, and how to fix it

What is IaC drift?

One of the biggest challenges of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is drift—when the actual cloud infrastructure deviates from the intended state defined in code. Drift can be caused by factors such as manual changes, automatic cloud service updates, or inconsistent Terraform state files. These discrepancies can lead to security gaps, operational inefficiencies, and compliance failures. Tools like Terraform state drift detection and Pulumi drift detection can help identify and correct these issues before they cause problems.

So, how do we tackle drift in Terraform, AWS, and Azure environments?

Common causes of IaC drift (and how to prevent it)

1. Manual changes by administrators

Cloud admins sometimes make “quick fixes” directly in AWS, Azure, or Cloud consoles, bypassing IaC tools like Terraform or Pulumi. These changes create IaC configuration drift, making it hard to maintain infrastructure consistency.

How to prevent IaC drift from manual changes: 

• Enforce Policy as Code (PaC) to control access and prevent unauthorised changes
• Use GitOps for IaC drift prevention by ensuring the Git repository is the single source of truth
• Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to limit what users can do in the portal or other management interfaces, ensuring that only authorised personnel can make changes to critical infrastructure components 

2. Automatic cloud provider updates

Cloud providers frequently update services, sometimes modifying default settings. If Terraform IaC configurations or Pulumi IaC scripts aren’t updated, drift can occur.

How to manage Terraform Cloud drift: 

• Regularly update Terraform Cloud IaC configurations to match provider updates.
• Automate testing to detect changes with Terraform drift detection tools like Terraform Plan, AWS Config, and Azure Policy. 

3. Misconfigurations & deployment errors

Teams deploying infrastructure inconsistently or skipping GitOps workflows may introduce Terraform state drift or IaC configuration drift without realising it.

How to prevent IaC misconfigurations: 

• Standardise CI/CD pipelines to maintain IaC compliance enforcement
• Track infrastructure changes using Git-based version control

How to detect & correct IaC drift

1. Use IaC drift detection tools

To catch drift before it becomes a problem, leverage infrastructure as code tools that compare real-world infrastructure with your desired state.

Best tools for Infrastructure as Code drift detection:

• Terraform Enterprise Drift Detection identifies differences between the live environment and Terraform state.
• Pulumi Drift Detection monitors infrastructure state changes.
• AWS Config & Azure Policy tracks and enforces compliance.

2. Automate IaC remediation with GitOps

To ensure infrastructure always aligns with code, implement a self-healing IaC strategy that automatically detects and corrects drift.

How to implement IaC automated remediation: 

• Use permissions and governance to enforce Git as the single source of truth.
• Automate rollback procedures with Terraform Cloud Drift Detection.

3. Conduct regular IaC audits

Routine audits help maintain IaC security and compliance while identifying any drift that might have gone unnoticed.

How to enforce IaC state management:

• Schedule periodic drift audits using Terraform IaC tools.
• Monitor for inconsistencies using IaC configuration drift monitoring solutions.

Eliminating IaC drift with Claranet

A SaaS provider, managing a growing multi-cloud infrastructure, struggled with persistent IaC drift in their Terraform configurations. As their cloud environment evolved, manual changes made by administrators, along with automatic updates from cloud providers, led to significant discrepancies between their live infrastructure and the defined IaC state. This drift resulted in security vulnerabilities, including exposed resources that weren’t properly secured, as well as downtime due to misconfigurations in critical infrastructure components.

Claranet helped them:

• Implement real-time IaC drift detection using Terraform’s drift detection tools, allowing the team to spot discrepancies between the intended configuration and live infrastructure before they could cause issues
• Automate remediation processes, ensuring that when drift was detected, the system would automatically correct the configuration, restoring consistency and preventing downtime
• Enforce policy-driven governance to prevent manual changes by administrators, requiring all modifications to go through the IaC pipeline, thereby maintaining full visibility and control over their infrastructure

The results?

• 80% reduction in drift-related incidents, significantly reducing the time spent troubleshooting and restoring infrastructure
• Enhanced security by ensuring that all infrastructure changes were compliant with security policies, preventing exposed resources and minimising vulnerabilities
• Greater stability across the cloud environment, enabling the SaaS provider to deliver a more reliable service to customers, without the constant disruptions caused by drift

Final thoughts: why use Infrastructure as Code?

Using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles is essential for cloud scalability, security, and efficiency. However, to maintain consistency, businesses must adopt robust drift detection, automated remediation, and GitOps practices to ensure long-term success.

By staying ahead of IaC drift, you can optimise cloud performance, enhance security, and ensure compliance across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud platforms.

Next Steps: Revisit Blog 1 for a deep dive into best Infrastructure as Code practices.

Need expert guidance? Claranet can help you implement the best tools for Infrastructure as Code and ensure your cloud remains stable, secure, and efficient.