Cloud operations are scaling faster than ever, making Policy as code for DevSecOps a necessity in 2025.
In this article, I’m discussing what policy as code is, and why it is needed as automated compliance for cloud environments, top tools for implementation, benefits, and use cases. So let’s dive in!
What Is Policy as Code?
Policy as code, Ansible is a means of representing compliance, security, and operational rules as executable code that is stored in a version control system, tested, and deployed like any other software.
So it’s simply a technique for defining and managing security rules, criteria, and conditions using code.
It enables the programmatic enforcement of security and risk policies within a continuous integration/continuous delivery/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline.
By using code-based automation rather than manual processes to handle policies, policy-as-code helps teams work faster and minimizes the risk of errors caused by human mistakes.
A policy as code approach involves teams writing policies using programming languages like Python, YAML, or Rego, updating them by modifying existing code, sharing them with others via a version control system (VCS), and using a policy-as-code enforcement engine.
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Why Policy as Code Is a DevSecOps Game-Changer
Policy as Code Ansible simplifies continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes, DevOps, DevSecOps, and GitOps implementation, and provides other significant advantages when applied throughout the stack.
Advantages of Policy as Code
- Sandboxing: Policies act as protective barriers for automated systems, shielding them from harmful actions. Manual checks are slow, necessitating the representation of policies as code.
- Codification: The logic of policies is expressed directly in code, which allows for enhanced comments.
- Version Control: Policies are kept as plain text files under a version control system, enabling the advantages of modern VCS such as history tracking, diffs, and pull requests.
- Testing: The syntax and functionality of policies can be checked using Sentinel, encouraging automated testing through continuous integration.
- Automation: Tools can be developed to automatically implement policies within a system.
- Cross-Functional Teamwork: Policy serves as a common language, bringing together Dev, Sec, and Ops teams.
- Scalable Oversight: As infrastructure expands, policy-as-code automatically applies guardrails.
Top Tools for Implementing Policy as Code
Now let’s go over the most effective tools you can use to enforce policies for your infrastructure:
1. Checkov
Checkov is a free tool that helps find and resolve security and compliance problems in infrastructure code before it is deployed. It works with different IaC frameworks, includes more than 750 built-in policies, and lets users create their own policies using Python or YAML. Checkov fits easily into development processes, but creating advanced custom rules might need some knowledge of Python.
2. HashiCorp Sentinel
HashiCorp Sentinel is a framework for policy as code that helps organizations create, enforce, and manage policies within their infrastructure.
It works with HashiCorp’s tools such as Terraform, Vault, and Consul, allowing for automated and detailed governance by making sure compliance and security policies are applied consistently during the infrastructure lifecycle.
3. AWS Config Rules
AWS Config is a service that not only monitors your activities but also maintains a log of all events occurring in your AWS environment.
The configuration management tool AWS Config acts as a historian, auditor, and enforcer by keeping track of AWS resources, documenting modifications, and comparing them to established compliance guidelines.
Compared to Azure Policy, AWS Config is a more comprehensive and flexible monitoring tool that provides management and customization in the intricate realm of cloud computing.
4. Permit.io
Simplifying policy formulation can ease the burden on developers, empower stakeholders, and avoid process bottlenecks, but policy languages have a steep learning curve.
Permit.io makes it easy to create and manage access control policies in applications using a low-code/no-code interface. These interfaces produce policy code directly into a Git repository, enabling developers to test, benchmark, and review the generated code while still being able to add their own code for more complex scenarios.
Permit.io supports multiple policy engines and languages like OPA, Cedar, and OpenFGA. While OPA is a central part of its ecosystem, Permit.io goes beyond creating Rego code by integrating with other languages, adopting a polyglot approach to policy management.
5. Kubernetes Admission Controllers
Admission controllers are pieces of code in the Kubernetes API server that check the data in requests to change a resource. They apply to requests for creating, deleting, or modifying resources, and can prevent custom actions. They can serve as validators, mutators, or both.
The admission control process happens in two stages. First, we run the mutating admission controllers. Then, in the second stage, we run the validating admission controllers. Just a reminder, some of these controllers can do both.
Real-World Use Cases & Examples
- Admission reviews for Kubernetes: PaC merges policy-as-code with a Kubernetes admission controller to enforce security measures in Kubernetes clusters.
- Zero-trust setup: PaC aids in managing complex zero-trust applications by restricting role-based access and detailing configuration modifications.
- Sandboxing: Companies can establish guardrails to separate at-risk software environments or harmful actions.
- Cost efficiency: Policy as code incorporates vendor-provided APIs to assess runtime expenses and limit cloud spending/resource usage. It checks configuration changes and resource deployment actions against current policies, reducing unexpected bills.
Implementing Policy as Code (PaC)
- Define and Codify Policies:
- Teams from various disciplines outline the needs for software installations, system setups, security configurations, and compliance with regulations.
- These policies are transformed into code using either proprietary tools or open-source options like Open Policy Agent (OPA) and Selefra.
- PaC tools ensure adherence to policies by utilizing policy code, data, and query inputs.
2. Automate and Test Policies:
- The PaC tool distributes the defined policies throughout the entire stack, automating the execution and testing of policy code.
3. Write and Upload App Code:
- With PaC, DevSecOps teams can write code and engage with cloud and network infrastructure while following the established policies.
4. Automatically Scan for Violations:
- The PaC tool routinely scans for any violations, either at set intervals or during code execution and resource provisioning.
5. Roll Out Software:
- Any violations are identified, and suggestions for fixes are provided. Engineering teams address these violations and proceed to deploy software, updates, or configuration changes.
Best Practices for Success with Policy as Code
- Start small and move fast: That way, you can develop rules for high-risk areas, such as public buckets.
- Consider policies as code: Keep automated testing in place, require reviews, and save them in Git.
- Involve early: Apply policies not just post-deployment but also during the development and pipeline stages.
- Document and teach: Provide teams with the resources they need to understand the intent behind policies.
- Monitor policy health: Keep an eye on violations and regularly tweak false positives.
- Break down the policies: To ensure consistency, reuse them through modules or packages.
Conclusion
Today, policy as code has become the heart of DevSecOps, which has made automation, compliance, enforces guardrails, and reducing risks without slowing velocity. This article explains how policy as code works and unlocks the real potential.
I suggest starting small, integrating smart, and evolving your policies accordingly.
FAQ’s
1. What’s a good example of policy as code?
A Terraform Sentinel rule that stops open security groups is one. Another example is OPA enforcing allowed registries in Kubernetes.
2. Can I use policy as code without Terraform?
Yes! OPA can work with Ansible, cloud CI tools, or admission controllers.
3. Is policy as code limited to cloud-native applications?
Not at all! It can be applied to traditional workloads as well, just make sure to use the right integration points in your pipelines.
