Google Cloud Terraform Policy Validation uses organizational constraints as security and governance guardrails for infrastructure-as-code. The `gcloud beta terraform vet` command checks Terraform plan JSON against policies, using Google Cloud APIs to retrieve project data. Teams can place validation between plan and apply in CI/CD workflows and run it through Google Cloud CLI, Cloud Build, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions. It can identify violations, issue warnings, or halt a deployment before production; its exit code is 0 when no violations are found and 2 when they are. The command accepts Terraform 0.12 or later plan JSON and requires a policy library plus the CLI `terraform-tools` component. Policies can cover resources from Terraform's google and google-beta providers, and supported constraints can be reused with tools that follow the same framework. The feature is in Preview under Pre-GA terms, where support may be limited. A separate Security Command Center validation workflow requires Premium or Enterprise activation at the organization level and a specified role.
Who it is for
It suits platform teams that want policy checks in Terraform CI/CD workflows before deployment. Security Command Center validation is for organizations with Premium or Enterprise activated and the required role.
What is good
- Free command for validating Terraform plans
- Can warn or stop deployment before production
- Integrates with Cloud Build, Jenkins, and GitHub Actions
- Constraints can be reused with compatible tools
What to know first
- Preview feature with potentially limited support
- Requires a policy library and CLI component
- Security Command Center validation has extra prerequisites
Verdict
Google Cloud Terraform Policy Validation provides policy checks for Terraform plans and can fit into several CI/CD workflows. Its Preview status and setup requirements are worth considering before adopting it.
Google Cloud Terraform Policy Validation plans and pricing
All plansCompared on infrastructure policy as code tools
- Free plan
- Yes
- Policy language
- Rego
- IaC formats
- Terraform plan JSON
- Policy testing
- Yes
- Admission control
- Yes
- Runtime enforcement
- No
- CI/CD integration
- Yes
- Policy reporting
- Yes
