diff --git a/.woodpecker.yml b/.woodpecker.yml
index b977b82..89ff39e 100644
--- a/.woodpecker.yml
+++ b/.woodpecker.yml
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ steps:
       GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL: http://gitops-status-server.observability-stack.svc.cluster.local:5000
       REPO_NAME: rsyslog
       SERVER_NAME: rsyslog-lab
+      MODE: post-deploy
       # Optimize Ansible for container environment
       ANSIBLE_HOST_KEY_CHECKING: "False"
       ANSIBLE_FORCE_COLOR: "False"
@@ -108,8 +109,8 @@ steps:
         # Increase file descriptor limit for Ansible (max safe value)
         ulimit -n 65536
 
-        # Install dependencies: curl for HTTP requests, jq for JSON formatting
-        apk add --no-cache curl jq > /dev/null 2>&1
+        # Install dependencies: git for detecting deployed files, curl for HTTP requests, jq for JSON formatting
+        apk add --no-cache git curl jq > /dev/null 2>&1
 
         # Setup SSH key for Ansible
         mkdir -p ~/.ssh
diff --git a/update-gitops-status.sh b/update-gitops-status.sh
index 636472d..6d8d0a7 100644
--- a/update-gitops-status.sh
+++ b/update-gitops-status.sh
@@ -49,128 +49,165 @@ REPO_NAME="${REPO_NAME:-rsyslog}"
 SERVER_NAME="${SERVER_NAME:-rsyslog-lab}"
 INVENTORY_FILE="ansible/inventory/hosts.yml"
 PLAYBOOK="ansible/playbooks/drift-check.yml"
+MODE="${MODE:-drift-check}"  # drift-check or post-deploy
 
 echo "═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════"
 echo "  GitOps Status Update"
 echo "  Repository: $REPO_NAME | Server: $SERVER_NAME"
 echo "  Target: $GITOPS_STATUS_SERVER_URL"
+echo "  Mode: $MODE"
 echo "═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════"
 echo ""
 
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Step 1: Run drift-check playbook
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-echo "Step 1/4: Running drift-check playbook..."
-
-# Capture playbook output to a temp file for parsing
-PLAYBOOK_LOG=$(mktemp)
-KEEP_LOG="${KEEP_PLAYBOOK_LOG:-false}"
-if [ "$KEEP_LOG" = "true" ]; then
-  PLAYBOOK_LOG="./drift-check-output.log"
-  echo "  Playbook output will be saved to: $PLAYBOOK_LOG"
-fi
-
-# Set up cleanup trap (will be updated later with RESPONSE_BODY)
-trap "rm -f $PLAYBOOK_LOG" EXIT
-
-# Run playbook (no -v flag to avoid file descriptor exhaustion in containers)
-# Exit code: 0 = synced, non-zero = drift detected (expected)
-# Limit forks to 1 to reduce file descriptor usage
-set +e
-ANSIBLE_FORCE_COLOR=false \
-ANSIBLE_FORKS=1 \
-ansible-playbook \
-  -i "$INVENTORY_FILE" \
-  "$PLAYBOOK" \
-  > "$PLAYBOOK_LOG" 2>&1
-DRIFT_RC=$?
-set -e
-
-# Show playbook output for debugging (compact)
-echo "Playbook output (last 25 lines):"
-cat "$PLAYBOOK_LOG" | tail -25
-echo ""
-echo "DEBUG: Full playbook output saved to: $PLAYBOOK_LOG"
-echo ""
-
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Step 2: Determine sync status and collect changed files
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-echo "Step 2/4: Analyzing drift detection results..."
-
 CHANGED_FILES=()
 DRIFT_COUNT=0
+SYNC_STATUS="SYNCED"
 
-# Exit code 0 = synced (all tasks succeeded)
-# Exit code non-zero = drift detected (fail task was reached)
-if [ "$DRIFT_RC" -eq 0 ]; then
-  SYNC_STATUS="SYNCED"
-  echo "  ✓ Status: SYNCED - server configuration matches Git"
-else
-  SYNC_STATUS="OUT_OF_SYNC"
-  echo "  ✗ Status: OUT OF SYNC - configuration drift detected"
-fi
-
-# Extract structured drifted files from playbook output
-# The drift-check.yml playbook outputs: DRIFTED_FILES=file1,file2,file3
-# With YAML callback, the output format is:   msg: DRIFTED_FILES=...
-echo "  DEBUG: Searching for DRIFTED_FILES in playbook output..."
-if grep -q "DRIFTED_FILES=" "$PLAYBOOK_LOG"; then
-  echo "  DEBUG: Found DRIFTED_FILES pattern"
-  DRIFTED_FILES_LINE=$(grep "DRIFTED_FILES=" "$PLAYBOOK_LOG" | tail -1)
-  echo "  DEBUG: Raw line: $DRIFTED_FILES_LINE"
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# MODE 1: post-deploy - Report what files were deployed from Git
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+if [ "$MODE" = "post-deploy" ]; then
+  echo "Step 1/4: Analyzing Git changes (what was just deployed)..."
   
-  # Extract value after DRIFTED_FILES= (handles both YAML and default callback formats)
-  # Format: "msg: DRIFTED_FILES=file1,file2" or "DRIFTED_FILES=file1,file2"
-  DRIFTED_FILES_STR=$(echo "$DRIFTED_FILES_LINE" | sed 's/.*DRIFTED_FILES=//' | sed 's/^[[:space:]]*//' | sed 's/[[:space:]]*$//' | tr -d '"')
-  echo "  DEBUG: Extracted value: '$DRIFTED_FILES_STR'"
-  
-  # Check if the value is an empty list ([] or empty string)
-  if [ -n "$DRIFTED_FILES_STR" ] && [ "$DRIFTED_FILES_STR" != "[]" ] && [ "$DRIFTED_FILES_STR" != "" ]; then
-    # Parse comma-separated list into array
-    IFS=',' read -ra CHANGED_FILES <<<"$DRIFTED_FILES_STR"
+  # Check what files changed in the last commit in files/ directory
+  if command -v git >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -d .git ]; then
+    # Get list of changed files in files/ directory from last commit
+    CHANGED_FILE_PATHS=$(git diff-tree --no-commit-id --name-only -r HEAD -- files/ 2>/dev/null || echo "")
     
-    echo "  DEBUG: Parsed ${#CHANGED_FILES[@]} files"
-    
-    # Clean up whitespace and normalize paths
-    for i in "${!CHANGED_FILES[@]}"; do
-      CHANGED_FILES[$i]=$(echo "${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}" | xargs)
+    if [ -n "$CHANGED_FILE_PATHS" ]; then
+      echo "  Files changed in last commit:"
+      while IFS= read -r filepath; do
+        if [ -n "$filepath" ]; then
+          # Strip "files/" prefix to get the config file name
+          filename="${filepath#files/}"
+          
+          # Skip if it's just "files/" (directory change)
+          if [ "$filename" != "" ] && [ "$filename" != "files/" ]; then
+            CHANGED_FILES+=("$filename")
+            echo "    - $filename"
+          fi
+        fi
+      done <<< "$CHANGED_FILE_PATHS"
       
-      # Convert full paths to relative paths for cleaner output
-      if [[ "${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}" == /etc/rsyslog.conf ]]; then
-        CHANGED_FILES[$i]="rsyslog.conf"
-      elif [[ "${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}" == /etc/rsyslog.d/* ]]; then
-        CHANGED_FILES[$i]=$(echo "${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}" | sed 's|^/etc/||')
-      fi
-      
-      if [ "$SYNC_STATUS" = "OUT_OF_SYNC" ]; then
-        echo "    - Drift detected in: ${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}"
-      fi
-    done
-    
-    DRIFT_COUNT=${#CHANGED_FILES[@]}
+      DRIFT_COUNT=${#CHANGED_FILES[@]}
+    else
+      echo "  No files changed in files/ directory"
+    fi
   else
-    echo "  DEBUG: DRIFTED_FILES is empty or []"
+    echo "  Git not available, cannot determine deployed files"
   fi
-else
-  echo "  DEBUG: DRIFTED_FILES not found in playbook output"
-  echo "  DEBUG: Attempting to parse from changed task output..."
   
-  # Fallback: Look for "changed:" indicators in the playbook output
-  if grep -q "changed: \[" "$PLAYBOOK_LOG"; then
-    echo "  DEBUG: Found changed tasks, but no structured DRIFTED_FILES output"
-    echo "  DEBUG: This might indicate a playbook output format issue"
+  # Always SYNCED after successful deploy
+  SYNC_STATUS="SYNCED"
+  echo "  ✓ Status: SYNCED - files were deployed successfully"
+  echo "  Total deployed files: $DRIFT_COUNT"
+  echo ""
+
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# MODE 2: drift-check - Check for manual changes on server (drift detection)
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+else
+  echo "Step 1/4: Running drift-check playbook..."
+
+  # Capture playbook output to a temp file for parsing
+  PLAYBOOK_LOG=$(mktemp)
+  KEEP_LOG="${KEEP_PLAYBOOK_LOG:-false}"
+  if [ "$KEEP_LOG" = "true" ]; then
+    PLAYBOOK_LOG="./drift-check-output.log"
+    echo "  Playbook output will be saved to: $PLAYBOOK_LOG"
   fi
-fi
 
-# Additional validation: If OUT_OF_SYNC but no files found, show warning
-if [ "$SYNC_STATUS" = "OUT_OF_SYNC" ] && [ "$DRIFT_COUNT" -eq 0 ]; then
-  echo "  ⚠️  WARNING: Status is OUT_OF_SYNC but no drifted files were extracted"
-  echo "  ⚠️  This might indicate a parsing issue. Check the playbook output above."
-fi
+  # Set up cleanup trap (will be updated later with RESPONSE_BODY)
+  trap "rm -f $PLAYBOOK_LOG" EXIT
 
-echo "  Total drift count: $DRIFT_COUNT"
-echo ""
+  # Run playbook (no -v flag to avoid file descriptor exhaustion in containers)
+  # Exit code: 0 = synced, non-zero = drift detected (expected)
+  # Limit forks to 1 to reduce file descriptor usage
+  set +e
+  ANSIBLE_FORCE_COLOR=false \
+  ANSIBLE_FORKS=1 \
+  ansible-playbook \
+    -i "$INVENTORY_FILE" \
+    "$PLAYBOOK" \
+    > "$PLAYBOOK_LOG" 2>&1
+  DRIFT_RC=$?
+  set -e
+
+  # Show playbook output for debugging (compact)
+  echo "Playbook output (last 25 lines):"
+  cat "$PLAYBOOK_LOG" | tail -25
+  echo ""
+  echo "DEBUG: Full playbook output saved to: $PLAYBOOK_LOG"
+  echo ""
+
+  # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  # Step 2: Determine sync status and collect changed files
+  # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  echo "Step 2/4: Analyzing drift detection results..."
+
+  # Exit code 0 = synced (all tasks succeeded)
+  # Exit code non-zero = drift detected (fail task was reached)
+  if [ "$DRIFT_RC" -eq 0 ]; then
+    SYNC_STATUS="SYNCED"
+    echo "  ✓ Status: SYNCED - server configuration matches Git"
+  else
+    SYNC_STATUS="OUT_OF_SYNC"
+    echo "  ✗ Status: OUT OF SYNC - configuration drift detected"
+  fi
+
+  # Extract structured drifted files from playbook output
+  # The drift-check.yml playbook outputs: DRIFTED_FILES=file1,file2,file3
+  echo "  DEBUG: Searching for DRIFTED_FILES in playbook output..."
+  if grep -q "DRIFTED_FILES=" "$PLAYBOOK_LOG"; then
+    echo "  DEBUG: Found DRIFTED_FILES pattern"
+    DRIFTED_FILES_LINE=$(grep "DRIFTED_FILES=" "$PLAYBOOK_LOG" | tail -1)
+    echo "  DEBUG: Raw line: $DRIFTED_FILES_LINE"
+    
+    # Extract value after DRIFTED_FILES= (handles both YAML and default callback formats)
+    # Format: "msg: DRIFTED_FILES=file1,file2" or "DRIFTED_FILES=file1,file2"
+    DRIFTED_FILES_STR=$(echo "$DRIFTED_FILES_LINE" | sed 's/.*DRIFTED_FILES=//' | sed 's/^[[:space:]]*//' | sed 's/[[:space:]]*$//' | tr -d '"')
+    echo "  DEBUG: Extracted value: '$DRIFTED_FILES_STR'"
+    
+    # Check if the value is an empty list ([] or empty string)
+    if [ -n "$DRIFTED_FILES_STR" ] && [ "$DRIFTED_FILES_STR" != "[]" ] && [ "$DRIFTED_FILES_STR" != "" ]; then
+      # Parse comma-separated list into array
+      IFS=',' read -ra CHANGED_FILES <<<"$DRIFTED_FILES_STR"
+      
+      echo "  DEBUG: Parsed ${#CHANGED_FILES[@]} files"
+      
+      # Clean up whitespace and normalize paths
+      for i in "${!CHANGED_FILES[@]}"; do
+        CHANGED_FILES[$i]=$(echo "${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}" | xargs)
+        
+        # Convert full paths to relative paths for cleaner output
+        if [[ "${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}" == /etc/rsyslog.conf ]]; then
+          CHANGED_FILES[$i]="rsyslog.conf"
+        elif [[ "${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}" == /etc/rsyslog.d/* ]]; then
+          CHANGED_FILES[$i]=$(echo "${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}" | sed 's|^/etc/||')
+        fi
+        
+        if [ "$SYNC_STATUS" = "OUT_OF_SYNC" ]; then
+          echo "    - Drift detected in: ${CHANGED_FILES[$i]}"
+        fi
+      done
+      
+      DRIFT_COUNT=${#CHANGED_FILES[@]}
+    else
+      echo "  DEBUG: DRIFTED_FILES is empty or []"
+    fi
+  else
+    echo "  DEBUG: DRIFTED_FILES not found in playbook output"
+  fi
+
+  # Additional validation: If OUT_OF_SYNC but no files found, show warning
+  if [ "$SYNC_STATUS" = "OUT_OF_SYNC" ] && [ "$DRIFT_COUNT" -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo "  ⚠️  WARNING: Status is OUT_OF_SYNC but no drifted files were extracted"
+    echo "  ⚠️  This might indicate a parsing issue. Check the playbook output above."
+  fi
+
+  echo "  Total drift count: $DRIFT_COUNT"
+  echo ""
+fi
 
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Step 3: Build JSON payload