diff --git a/.woodpecker.yml b/.woodpecker.yml
index 8eca8cf..cb19819 100644
--- a/.woodpecker.yml
+++ b/.woodpecker.yml
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ steps:
       ANSIBLE_CONFIG: ansible.cfg
       SSH_PRIVATE_KEY:
         from_secret: SSH_PRIVATE_KEY
-      GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL: http://gitops-status-server.observability-stack.svc.cluster.local:80
+      GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL: http://gitops-status-api.observability-stack.svc.cluster.local:5000
       REPO_NAME: rsyslog
       SERVER_NAME: rsyslog-lab
       # Optimize Ansible for container environment
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ steps:
       ANSIBLE_CONFIG: ansible.cfg
       SSH_PRIVATE_KEY:
         from_secret: SSH_PRIVATE_KEY
-      GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL: http://gitops-status-server.observability-stack.svc.cluster.local:80
+      GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL: http://gitops-status-api.observability-stack.svc.cluster.local:5000
       REPO_NAME: rsyslog
       SERVER_NAME: rsyslog-lab
       # Optimize Ansible for container environment
diff --git a/ansible/playbooks/drift-check.yml b/ansible/playbooks/drift-check.yml
index 4e90dba..52c3bd6 100644
--- a/ansible/playbooks/drift-check.yml
+++ b/ansible/playbooks/drift-check.yml
@@ -3,35 +3,69 @@
   hosts: rsyslog_servers
   gather_facts: false
 
-  # NOTE: src paths below resolve relative to the Ansible controller (the
-  # Woodpecker CI container), so they always reflect the latest Git commit –
-  # NOT the server's local clone, which may be stale.
+  # NOTE: This playbook compares file CONTENT ONLY using md5 checksums.
+  # It ignores permissions/ownership differences.
+  # Permissions are enforced during deploy (apply.yml)
 
   tasks:
     # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    # Use Ansible copy in check_mode so it compares controller files (Git)
-    # against live server files without actually writing anything.
-    # changed=true  → file differs → drift
-    # changed=false → files match  → synced
-    #
-    # NOTE: Only checking file CONTENT, not permissions/ownership
-    # The validate.yml playbook enforces permissions on deploy
+    # Checksum-based content comparison (ignores permissions/ownership)
+    # This is the only reliable way to detect actual config changes
+    # after deployment when permissions have been set.
     # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    - name: Check main rsyslog.conf
-      ansible.builtin.copy:
-        src: "{{ playbook_dir }}/../../files/rsyslog.conf"
-        dest: "{{ rsyslog_main_config }}"
-      check_mode: true
-      diff: true
-      register: main_config_check
+    
+    - name: Get MD5 checksum of Git version of rsyslog.conf
+      stat:
+        path: "{{ playbook_dir }}/../../files/rsyslog.conf"
+      delegate_to: localhost
+      register: git_rsyslog_conf_stat
 
-    - name: Check rsyslog.d config files
-      ansible.builtin.copy:
-        src: "{{ playbook_dir }}/../../files/rsyslog.d/"
-        dest: "{{ rsyslog_config_dir }}/"
-      check_mode: true
-      diff: true
-      register: rsyslogd_check
+    - name: Get MD5 checksum of server version of rsyslog.conf
+      stat:
+        path: "{{ rsyslog_main_config }}"
+      register: server_rsyslog_conf_stat
+
+    - name: Compare rsyslog.conf content
+      set_fact:
+        main_config_check:
+          changed: "{{ git_rsyslog_conf_stat.stat.checksum != server_rsyslog_conf_stat.stat.checksum }}"
+          checksum_git: "{{ git_rsyslog_conf_stat.stat.checksum }}"
+          checksum_server: "{{ server_rsyslog_conf_stat.stat.checksum }}"
+
+    - name: Get checksums for rsyslog.d directory files
+      block:
+        - name: Find Git rsyslog.d files
+          find:
+            paths: "{{ playbook_dir }}/../../files/rsyslog.d"
+            patterns: "*.conf"
+            recurse: false
+          delegate_to: localhost
+          register: git_confd_files
+
+        - name: Find server rsyslog.d files
+          find:
+            paths: "{{ rsyslog_config_dir }}"
+            patterns: "*.conf"
+            recurse: false
+          register: server_confd_files
+
+        - name: Get checksums for all Git rsyslog.d files
+          stat:
+            path: "{{ item.path }}"
+          delegate_to: localhost
+          loop: "{{ git_confd_files.files }}"
+          register: git_confd_checksums
+
+        - name: Get checksums for all server rsyslog.d files
+          stat:
+            path: "{{ item.path }}"
+          loop: "{{ server_confd_files.files }}"
+          register: server_confd_checksums
+
+        - name: Compare rsyslog.d file checksums
+          set_fact:
+            rsyslogd_check:
+              changed: "{{ git_confd_checksums.results | map(attribute='stat.checksum') | list != server_confd_checksums.results | map(attribute='stat.checksum') | list }}"
 
     - name: Check for extra files on server not present in Git
       block:
diff --git a/update-gitops-status.sh b/update-gitops-status.sh
index 961e111..cef8da2 100644
--- a/update-gitops-status.sh
+++ b/update-gitops-status.sh
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Configuration
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL="${GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL:-http://gitops-status-server.observability-stack.svc.cluster.local:80}"
+GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL="${GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL:-http://gitops-status-api.observability-stack.svc.cluster.local:5000}"
 REPO_NAME="${REPO_NAME:-rsyslog}"
 SERVER_NAME="${SERVER_NAME:-rsyslog-lab}"
 INVENTORY_FILE="ansible/inventory/hosts.yml"