Drift detection is a crucial component in managing infrastructure as code (IaC) with Pulumi, as it ensures that the actual state of infrastructure remains consistent with the desired state defined in Pulumi programs. Drift occurs when unauthorized changes are made, leading to inconsistencies that can complicate automation and pose risks to an organization. To address drift, Pulumi offers strategies such as using the `--refresh` option during deployment, which updates the state file by comparing it with the current infrastructure but can slow down the process and potentially trigger unnecessary updates. To combat drift effectively, two main approaches are suggested: the workflow approach, which involves frequent scheduling of Pulumi runs via CI/CD tools to catch drift regularly, and the operator approach, which utilizes the Pulumi Kubernetes Operator to continuously reconcile the state at short intervals. Best practices for safe adoption of continuous drift detection include manually running `pulumi up --refresh` to preview changes, using protections for critical resources, ignoring changes on specific properties when necessary, and enabling delete-before-replace for certain resources. By integrating these strategies, users can maintain control over their infrastructure and minimize risks associated with drift.