> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Demo Drift Detection
> Terraform Clouds Drift Detection feature monitors infrastructure for changes, ensuring environments remain in sync with version-controlled Terraform code.
Terraform Cloud’s Drift Detection feature, introduced in mid-2022, continuously monitors your infrastructure for out-of-band changes. By comparing your deployed resources against your version-controlled Terraform code, it helps ensure your environments stay in sync.
## Prerequisites and Licensing
Terraform Cloud Drift Detection requires a **Business Tier** license. If you’re evaluating this feature, ensure your organization has the correct plan.
## Overview of Workspaces and Health Status
From the Terraform Cloud UI, you can quickly see which workspaces are “Errored,” “Applied,” or have drift:
## Enable Drift Detection
You can enable health assessments — including drift detection — either globally or per workspace.
1. Navigate to **Settings** in your organization.
2. Select **Health** and choose your preferred scope.
In this demo, we’ve enabled health checks at the **workspace** level. Open the **Clumsy Bird** workspace to confirm its current status. A recent plan and apply completed with no drift:
Once enabled, you’ll see a new **Drift** section in the workspace sidebar:
## Verifying the Baseline State
Before simulating drift, confirm that your deployed infrastructure matches code. For example, check your AWS EC2 dashboard for the **Clumsy Bird** instance:
## Simulate Drift
In the AWS Console, modify the **Environment** tag from `development` to `production`:
After saving, Terraform Cloud’s periodic health assessment will detect this change. You can filter by **Drift** on the workspace dashboard:
The first health assessment typically runs **24 hours** after your last active Terraform run. Learn more in the [Health Assessment Scheduling documentation](https://www.terraform.io/cloud-docs/health-assessment-scheduling).
## Detecting and Reviewing Drift
Once the assessment completes, Terraform Cloud will highlight any discrepancies. In the **Clumsy Bird** workspace, drift is detected and detailed under the **Health** tab:
## Handling Detected Drift
Terraform Cloud offers two primary options:
| Method | Description |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Accept the drift | Run a **Refresh State** plan to update Terraform’s state file without changing code. |
| Override the drift | Execute a standard **Plan and Apply** to revert the infrastructure back to match your code. |
Example of a detected drift diff:
```plaintext theme={null}
aws aws_instance.clumsy_bird :
iam_instance_profile :
id :
public_ip :
tags :
Environment : "development-manual-change"
tags.all :
Environment :
"development" : "development-manual-change"
```
### Accepting the Drift
Click **Start New Run** and select **Refresh State**. This updates the Terraform state to reflect the manual change.
### Overriding the Drift
Select the usual **Plan and Apply** workflow to revert the tag back to `development`:
After completion, verify in the AWS Console that the **Environment** tag is back to `development`. The Health tab will now show **No drift detected**.
## Configuring Drift Notifications
Stay informed by setting up notifications under **Notifications**. For example, send an email or Slack message whenever drift is detected:
Choose **Health events** and enable **Drift detected**:
Specify your email recipients or Slack channel:
## Summary
Terraform Cloud Drift Detection (Business Tier) ensures your infrastructure matches your code by:
* Continuously checking for out-of-band changes
* Highlighting drift under the **Health** tab
* Providing options to accept or override detected drift
* Allowing notifications to alert your team immediately
* [Terraform Cloud Health Assessment Scheduling](https://www.terraform.io/cloud-docs/health-assessment-scheduling)
* [Terraform Cloud Overview](https://www.terraform.io/cloud)
* [AWS EC2 Documentation](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/ec2/)