How To Avoid Configuration Drift

In this post, we'll explore the dangers of Configuration Drift, why it's important to avoid it, and practical tips for keeping your infrastructure in check.

Introduction

At its core, Configuration Drift is the difference between the desired state of a system and its actual state. It's a subtle but pernicious problem that can lead to unexpected behavior and security vulnerabilities. In this blog post, I'll give you eight practical tips for avoiding Configuration Drift, and keeping your infrastructure in check.

1. Use Infrastructure as Code

One of the most effective ways to avoid Configuration Drift is to use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Ansible, Puppet or Chef. These tools allow you to define the desired state of your infrastructure in code, and automatically ensure that the actual state of your systems matches that desired state. This way, even if someone makes a manual change to a system, the IaC tool will automatically detect and correct the drift.

2. Implement Change Control Processes

Another way to avoid Configuration Drift is to implement change control processes. This means setting up a system for managing and approving changes to your infrastructure, and having a clear rollback plan in case of issues. This can help to prevent unintended changes from being made, and ensure that any changes are made in a controlled and tested environment.

3. Monitor your systems

Monitoring your systems is another key step in avoiding Configuration Drift. By monitoring the state of your systems, you can detect when drift has occurred, and take appropriate action to correct it. This can be done through various tools such as Nagios, Prometheus, and Datadog.

4. Regularly Audit your systems

Regularly auditing your systems is another important step in avoiding Configuration Drift. This means periodically reviewing the state of your systems to ensure that they match the desired state defined in your IaC tool. This can be done through manual inspections or automated scripts.

5. Use Version Control

Another best practice for avoiding Configuration Drift is to use version control. By keeping your IaC code in a version control system, you can easily track changes, roll back to previous versions, and collaborate with others. This can help to ensure that your infrastructure is always in a known state.

6. Automate testing

Automating testing is another key step in avoiding Configuration Drift. By automating tests, you can ensure that changes to your systems do not cause unintended side-effects. This includes automating the deployment of new systems, the scaling of existing systems, and the management of configuration changes.

7. Follow the Principle of Least Privilege

Another best practice for avoiding Configuration Drift is to follow the principle of least privilege. This means that users and processes should be granted only the access and privileges that they need to perform their functions, and no more. This can help to prevent unauthorized changes from being made to your systems.

8. Continuously improve

Finally, it's important to continuously improve your processes for avoiding Configuration Drift. This means regularly reviewing your systems, looking for areas of improvement, and making changes as needed. This can help to ensure that your infrastructure is always in a known state and that you are prepared for future changes.

Why is it Important to Avoid Configuration Drift?

CONS

In a nutshell, Configuration Drift is the silent killer of infrastructure. It's the difference between the desired state of a system and its actual state, and it can lead to unexpected behavior and security vulnerabilities. But why is it so important to avoid Configuration Drift?

First and foremost, Configuration Drift can cause your systems to behave in unexpected ways. This can lead to everything from minor annoyances to major service disruptions. Imagine, for example, if a server's firewall configuration is changed, and it suddenly becomes inaccessible. This can cause all sorts of headaches, from lost productivity to lost customers.

But that's not all. Configuration Drift can also lead to security vulnerabilities. If a system's security settings are changed, it can become vulnerable to attack. This can lead to data breaches, loss of sensitive information, and reputational damage. In a world where security breaches are becoming increasingly common, it's more important than ever to avoid Configuration Drift.

Finally, Configuration Drift can make it difficult to troubleshoot problems. If a system's state is constantly changing, it can be difficult to determine the root cause of an issue. This can lead to wasted time, lost productivity, and increased frustration. By avoiding Configuration Drift, you can make it easier to troubleshoot problems and get back to business as usual.

Conclusion

Configuration Drift is a subtle but pernicious problem that can lead to unexpected behavior and security vulnerabilities.

Avoiding Configuration Drift is critical to the stability, security, and maintainability of your infrastructure. By following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can keep your systems in check and avoid Configuration Drift.