DevOps & CloudIntermediate
Configuration Drift
Pronunciationkuhn-fig-yuh-RAY-shun DRIFT
Definition
Configuration drift happens when the actual settings or state of a server or system slowly change over time and no longer match the original code or defined baseline.
Where you hear it
During server audits, troubleshooting production issues, or reviewing Infrastructure as Code pipelines.
Examples
Configuration drift caused the staging environment to behave differently than production.
We run automated scans daily to detect any configuration drift on our cloud servers.
Common mistake
Thinking that manual fixes made directly on a live server will be saved in the version control system automatically.