The correct answer isD. Automated compliance checks.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC)is a key DevSecOps practice where infrastructure configurations are defined and managed through code. In a security context, the primary benefit of using IaC is the ability toautomate compliance checksand enforce security best practices consistently across environments.

Key Benefits of IaC in Security:

Automated Compliance:IaC allows for the embedding ofsecurity policies directly into configuration scripts. This means that when infrastructure is deployed, it automatically adheres to compliance requirements (like NIST, CIS benchmarks).

Consistency and Repeatability:Since IaC scripts are version-controlled, any configuration changes are tracked, minimizing the risk ofconfiguration drift.

Security by Design:By coding security configurations (like IAM roles, network ACLs, encryption settings), organizations ensure that every deployment meets security standards.

Reduced Human Error:Automating infrastructure provisioning reduces manual errors that can lead to vulnerabilities.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Manual patch management:IaC promotes automated and repeatable configurations, reducing the need for manual patching.

B. Ad hoc security policies:IaC encouragesstandardized and consistentpolicies rather than ad hoc management.

C. Static resource allocation:IaC is dynamic and scalable, allowing for automatic scaling and configuration management rather than static resource setups.

Real-World Example:

Using tools likeTerraformorAWS CloudFormation, organizations can defineIAM policies, security group rules, and data encryption settingsas part of the infrastructure code. These configurations are then automatically checked for compliance against established policies during deployment.

Security and Compliance in IaC:

Organizations can integrate tools likeTerraform ComplianceorAWS Config Rulesto automatically verify that infrastructure settings align withregulatory requirementsandinternal security policies.