Infrastructure as Code Security
Security scanning of Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, and Pulumi configurations.
Infrastructure as Code Security
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) has become the standard for provisioning cloud and on-premises infrastructure — but insecure Terraform modules, misconfigured CloudFormation stacks, and Ansible playbooks that grant excessive permissions all codify vulnerabilities directly into your environments. IaC misconfigurations are now one of the leading causes of cloud breaches, and unlike runtime misconfigurations, they often persist across every environment the code is deployed to. Intelliroot's IaC Security service identifies security misconfigurations, secrets exposure, and compliance gaps in your IaC codebase before they reach production.
We combine best-in-class automated scanning tools — Checkov, tfsec, and KICS — with manual expert review for complex cross-resource misconfiguration patterns and policy bypass risks. Findings are mapped to CIS Benchmarks, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOC 2 controls as required, giving your compliance and engineering teams a clear picture of risk and a prioritised remediation roadmap.
Why IaC Security Is a First-Line Control
Misconfigurations Scale Instantly
A single insecure Terraform module deployed across 50 environments propagates the same vulnerability everywhere simultaneously. Fixing it in code fixes it everywhere — but so does introducing it.
Secrets Are Routinely Committed to IaC Repos
Hardcoded passwords, API keys, and TLS certificates appear regularly in Terraform variable files, Ansible inventories, and CloudFormation parameters — often committed to version control for months before discovery.
Drift Creates Shadow Risk
When manual changes diverge from IaC state, security controls configured in code no longer reflect reality. Detecting and reconciling drift is essential for maintaining a known-good security posture.
Compliance Frameworks Require It
PCI DSS 4.0, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA all require configuration management and change control. IaC security scanning is the most efficient way to demonstrate these controls to auditors.
What We Assess
Terraform & OpenTofu
- Resource misconfiguration (S3, IAM, security groups, KMS)
- Module security and reuse pattern review
- State file exposure and backend configuration
- tfsec and Checkov automated scanning
- CIS benchmark mapping for AWS/Azure/GCP resources
CloudFormation & Pulumi
- CloudFormation template security analysis (cfn-nag, Checkov)
- Pulumi program review for misconfiguration patterns
- Stack policy and change set controls
- Secrets in template parameters and outputs
- Cross-stack permission boundary review
Ansible & Configuration Management
- Playbook security review (privilege escalation, secrets)
- Ansible Vault usage and key management assessment
- Role and task privilege minimisation review
- Inventory file secrets and credential exposure
- Galaxy role provenance and supply chain review
Policy as Code & CI/CD Integration
- OPA/Rego policy assessment and coverage analysis
- IaC scanning integration in CI/CD pipelines
- Blocking gate configuration and policy bypass review
- Drift detection tooling configuration
- Compliance mapping (CIS, PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2)
Our Assessment Approach
Scoping & Codebase Inventory
Identify all IaC repositories, tools in use (Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible, Pulumi), and target cloud environments. Define access requirements — typically read-only repository access — and agree on compliance frameworks to map findings against.
Automated Scanning Baseline
Run Checkov, tfsec, and KICS across all in-scope IaC code to establish a comprehensive misconfiguration baseline. Run Gitleaks and TruffleHog for secrets detection across repository history. Triage and deduplicate findings to remove false positives.
Manual Expert Review
Conduct manual review of high-complexity and high-risk areas — including IAM policy construction, cross-resource permission chains, and module reuse patterns — to identify vulnerabilities that automated scanners miss.
Compliance Mapping & Drift Assessment
Map all findings against applicable compliance frameworks (CIS, PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2). If drift detection is in scope, compare IaC state against live infrastructure to identify configuration gaps and unauthorised manual changes.
Risk-Rated Reporting & Pipeline Guidance
Deliver a risk-rated findings report with compliance mapping, code-level remediation snippets, and recommendations for integrating IaC security scanning into your CI/CD pipeline as a blocking gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deliverables
Executive Summary Report
IaC security posture overview with risk distribution, critical findings, and strategic recommendations for embedding security into your infrastructure delivery pipeline.
Technical Findings Report
Detailed findings for every identified misconfiguration and secret exposure — with file paths, resource names, CVSS scores, compliance mappings, and code-level remediation snippets.
Compliance Mapping Register
Spreadsheet mapping each finding to CIS Benchmark controls and applicable compliance frameworks (PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001) for audit submission.
Secrets Exposure Report
Inventory of all secrets and credentials discovered in IaC repositories with affected files, estimated exposure period, and prioritised revocation guidance.
Remediation Roadmap & Pipeline Guide
Prioritised remediation plan with code-fix examples and a guide for integrating IaC security scanning as a blocking gate in your CI/CD pipeline.
Retest & Closure Certificate
Complimentary retest of critical findings after remediation with a signed closure certificate for compliance records.
Request a Security Assessment
Tell us about your environment and security objectives. We'll design a bespoke assessment and deliver a detailed proposal within 48 hours.