AWS CloudFormation vs Cinc Auditor

AWS CloudFormation models, provisions, and manages related AWS and third-party resources as infrastructure as code. YAML or JSON templates define AWS resources and their properties. StackSets deploy a common set of resources across multiple AWS accounts and Regions; Change Sets preview proposed stack updates, including possible deletion or replacement, and Drift Detection tracks changes made outside the service. For authoring, AWS CDK supports TypeScript, Python, Java, and .NET, while AWS SAM offers shorthand YAML for serverless resources that is converted during deployment. The CloudFormation Registry supports third-party resources and modules, and stacks can be updated from remote Git repositories. The service is available through API, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows, and manages state. CloudFormation itself has a free plan, with no additional charge for AWS and Alexa resource providers, but created AWS resources are billed at their standard rates. Third-party provider and custom hook operations may also incur charges. Access can be managed with IAM, and CloudTrail logs API calls.

Cinc Auditor is a free distribution of Chef InSpec for compliance and audit workflows on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its profiles are fully compatible with upstream counterparts, and its tools work with InSpec; an InSpec wrapper redirects to Cinc Auditor so existing automation can keep working. Installation options include scripts, Bundler, RubyGems, and plain packages. Cinc also publishes a Docker Hub image as a drop-in replacement for chef/inspec. It can run InSpec-compatible profiles in CI or against containers, with GitLab CI and GitHub Actions named as examples. Auditor is included in Cinc Workstation. Cinc says its binaries use the Apache 2.0 license without additional EULAs or licensing. The project does not provide formal warranties or support, and it does not currently offer repositories for standard package managers such as yum or apt. The free plan costs nothing. Cinc recommends contacting Progress for warranty or support needs.