Ansible
IT automation and configuration management tool using simple YAML playbooks and agentless execution
Rudder
Automate infrastructure security and compliance across diverse environments
Rudder automates inventory, patching, vulnerability management, and system hardening, offering visual and YAML policy editing for Linux and Windows at scale, with optional subscription for extended features.
Overview
Overview
Rudder is an infrastructure automation platform aimed at IT operations and SecOps teams that need to maintain a strong security posture. It continuously inventories systems, applies patches, scans for vulnerabilities, and enforces hardening policies. Policies can be built with a visual editor or written in YAML, and the engine runs on a central server that communicates with lightweight agents installed on each managed node.
Capabilities & Deployment
The solution supports Linux and Windows hosts across cloud, hybrid, and on‑premise environments, scaling to thousands of nodes with a hierarchical data engine and automatic classification. A typical deployment consists of a central server (with optional plugins), optional relay proxies, and agents that check and enforce state every five minutes. Rudder Core provides the core features for free under GPL 3.0/Apache 2.0, while a paid subscription unlocks additional plugins, extended platform support, and professional assistance.
Highlights
Automated security posture management (inventory, patching, vulnerability, hardening)
Visual policy editor plus YAML for configuration authoring
Supports Linux, Windows, cloud, hybrid, and on‑premise at 10k+ nodes
Scalable hierarchical data engine with optional enterprise plugins
Pros
- Open‑core model offers a free, fully functional core for Linux
- Unified web UI and API simplify automation workflows
- Agent runs autonomously every five minutes for continuous compliance
- Hierarchical data and automatic classification enable large‑scale deployments
Considerations
- Full feature set requires a paid subscription
- Windows support is only available through subscription plugins
- Initial setup may need scripting for quick‑install scenarios
- Enterprise support is limited to subscription customers
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Fit guide
Great for
- Small to medium Linux‑only environments seeking free automation
- Enterprises needing multi‑platform security compliance
- Teams that prefer visual policy authoring alongside code
- Organizations requiring scalable management of thousands of nodes
Not ideal when
- Organizations that need all features without a subscription
- Environments lacking Linux agents or requiring only Windows agents
- Teams requiring real‑time (<5 min) enforcement cycles
- Users preferring a completely proprietary‑free stack
How teams use it
Automated patch management
Keeps 500+ Linux servers up‑to‑date, reducing exposure to known vulnerabilities.
Compliance reporting for PCI DSS
Provides visual dashboards that demonstrate system hardening and policy adherence.
Hybrid cloud inventory
Offers a unified view of on‑premise and AWS instances for consistent policy enforcement.
Rapid onboarding of new hosts
Agents auto‑classify new machines and apply predefined policies without manual intervention.
Tech snapshot
Scala67%
Rust9%
Elm8%
SCSS3%
Python3%
StringTemplate2%
Frequently asked questions
Is Rudder open‑source and free?
Rudder follows an open‑core model: Rudder Core is free and open‑source (GPL 3.0/Apache 2.0). The full Rudder solution adds proprietary plugins and requires a subscription.
Do I need to reinstall when upgrading from Core to a subscription?
No. The subscription adds plugins on top of the existing installation; only the repository URL may need updating.
What platforms does Rudder support?
Linux is supported in the free core. Windows, additional architectures, and extended platform support are available with a subscription.
How long are versions maintained?
Core users have a 3‑month upgrade window after a new minor/major release. Subscribers receive 18‑24 months of major‑release maintenance and longer minor‑release windows.
Where can I get help or support?
Community support is available via GitHub Discussions and chat channels. Professional support is included with a paid subscription.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 618
- Watchers
- 618
- Forks
- 87
LicenseGPL-3.0
Repo age14 years old
Last commityesterday
Primary languageScala
Last synced 3 hours ago