What is Drift Remediation?
Drift Remediation is the process of identifying and correcting unintended changes, known as configuration drift, in IT systems or cloud infrastructure. Over time, systems can deviate from their intended state due to manual updates, software patches, or misconfigurations. These changes may cause security vulnerabilities, compliance risks, performance issues, or system failures.
Automated drift remediation tools continuously monitor systems against predefined baselines, detecting discrepancies in configuration, resource allocations, or compliance standards. Once drift is detected, remediation actions are triggered, either manually by administrators or automatically by orchestration or Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools.
How IaC Enables Drift Remediation
In environments that rely on Infrastructure as Code (IaC) – such as Terraform or OpenTofu—drift remediation is critical to maintaining consistency between code and deployed infrastructure. IaC templates define the desired configuration state, and drift remediation ensures that deployed resources match that blueprint.
When differences occur, IaC tools can automatically detect and correct them, restoring the environment to its intended configuration. This automation prevents configuration drift from introducing vulnerabilities, compliance gaps, or outages. By maintaining alignment between actual and desired states, organizations can reduce downtime, improve reliability, and ensure regulatory compliance.
In short, drift remediation acts like a compass, constantly correcting course so your systems remain secure, consistent, and operational.
Take control of your Terraform drift.
ControlMonkey offers a powerful platform for managing and remediating infrastructure drift in Terraform environments. Automate drift detection, generate code-based fixes, and keep your cloud in sync with your IaC.
