Drift Detection

Drift Detection helps you ensure that your live infrastructure matches what you declared in code. Axio continuously compares the actual deployed state with the desired state defined in your workflow.

Why drift detection?

Infrastructure can change outside of your workflows — manual updates, emergency fixes, or external tools. Drift detection identifies these differences so you can fix them early and keep environments reliable.

How it works

Axio compares your desired state with the actual state using your configured IaC engine.

</>
1. Desired State Defined in code
(Terraform, OpenTofu, Pulumi)
2. Actual State Live infrastructure
in your cloud
3. Drift Detection Axio compares
the two states
No DriftEverything is in sync
! Drift DetectedDifferences found

Drift Detection Dashboard

The Drift Detection page provides two views for monitoring infrastructure drift.

Watched

The Watched tab shows workspaces and stacks that are currently being monitored for drift.

Field Description
Stack Name of the stack being monitored
Workspace Workspace containing the stack
Engine IaC engine used by the stack, such as Terraform
Level Scope at which drift detection is configured
Status Result of the latest drift check
Last checked Time when the stack was last checked
Schedule Frequency at which the stack is checked
Actions Available actions for the watched stack

All Sources

The All Sources tab shows the available infrastructure sources that can be selected for drift monitoring.


Watch a Stack

Use Watch stack to add a stack to Drift Detection.

Once a stack is being watched, Axio periodically runs a drift check according to its configured schedule.

A watched stack appears in the Watched tab with its current status and last check time.

Watch a stack

Add a stack to Drift Detection to automatically check it according to the configured schedule.

Drift Check Status

Each watched stack displays the result of its most recent check.

✓ Check Passed

The latest drift check completed successfully and the infrastructure is consistent with the declared configuration.

× Check Failed

A drift check failed or could not complete successfully.

When checks fail, open the affected workspace and run a new check.

Note: A failed check can mean that the IaC plan or preview could not complete successfully on the assigned runner. Investigate the workspace and runner configuration before treating the result as confirmed infrastructure drift.

Check Schedule

Drift Detection can run checks at a configured interval.

Every 15 minutes Frequent drift monitoring
Every hour Hourly drift monitoring

The Schedule column shows the configured frequency for each watched stack.

Manage Watched Stacks

The Actions column provides controls for managing a watched stack.

Depending on the available actions, you can:

  • Run a new drift check
  • Remove the stack from Drift Detection

Removing a stack from the watched list stops scheduled drift checks for that stack.


Troubleshooting Failed Checks

If a drift check shows Check failed:

  1. Open the affected workspace.
  2. Review the stack configuration.
  3. Check whether the IaC plan or preview can complete successfully.
  4. Verify that the assigned runner is available and has the required IaC engine.
  5. Run a new drift check.
  6. Review the updated status.
Important

A failed drift check does not necessarily mean that infrastructure has drifted. The check itself may have failed because the IaC plan or preview could not complete.


Trends & Analytics

Use Show trends & analytics to review drift-related trends and analytics for monitored infrastructure.

This can help identify recurring check failures and understand drift detection activity over time.

Show trends & analytics →