7 Essential Facts About the New Terraform Registry Partner Premier Tier

The Terraform Registry has long been the go‑to hub for infrastructure as code (IaC) practitioners. Building on the success of the Partner tag introduced in 2022, HashiCorp has now unveiled a higher standard: the Partner Premier tier. This new designation rewards providers that go above and beyond in technical quality, security, and feature adoption. In this listicle, we break down everything you need to know about the Partner Premier tier—from what it is and why it matters, to the cutting‑edge features it brings and the industry leaders already on board.

1. What Is the Partner Premier Tier?

The Partner Premier tier is an elevated status on the Terraform Registry that builds on the existing Partner tag. It recognizes technology partners who demonstrate the highest commitment to technical excellence, security best practices, and adoption of Terraform’s latest imperative features. To earn this tag, a provider must first meet all current Partner requirements, then fulfill additional advanced criteria. The result? A clear, trustworthy signal for end users that the provider is not only reliable but is also actively pushing the boundaries of what Terraform can automate.

2. Key Benefits for Terraform Users

For customers, the Partner Premier tag delivers peace of mind and tangible operational advantages. Providers holding this badge adhere to rigorous security protocols, offer ongoing support, and make their internal components transparent and verifiable. End users can quickly identify providers that support advanced workflows—such as ephemeral resources, Terraform search, and Terraform actions—bringing complex Day‑2 tasks into the Terraform pipeline. This means fewer external scripts, lower maintenance overhead, and a more unified automation experience.

3. Required Advanced Features: Ephemeral Resources, Search, and Actions

To qualify for the Partner Premier tier, a provider must implement at least one of three advanced features announced at HashiConf 2025:

• Ephemeral resources – These offer a security best practice by ensuring sensitive data or temporary infrastructure exists only for the duration of a Terraform operation, reducing attack surface.
• Terraform search – Allows users to quickly find resources, data sources, and documentation within a provider, speeding up exploration and troubleshooting.
• Terraform actions – Enable preset operations that extend Terraform’s automation beyond the standard CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) model, codifying common Day‑2 workflows like rebooting a server or saving a configuration.

By integrating these capabilities, Partner Premier providers empower users to automate tasks that previously required manual steps or external tooling.

4. New Technical Requirement: Software Bill of Materials (SBOM)

In addition to feature adoption, every Partner Premier provider must include a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). An SBOM is a formal, machine‑readable inventory of all components, libraries, and dependencies used in the provider’s code. This transparency allows end users to assess supply‑chain risks, verify that no vulnerable or outdated packages are present, and maintain compliance with internal security policies. It’s a concrete step toward making infrastructure more auditable and trustworthy.

5. How to Identify Partner Premier Providers on the Registry

Finding these high‑quality providers is straightforward. On the Terraform Registry, customers can sort and filter by the Partner Premier tag. When browsing providers, you’ll see a clear badge next to those that have earned this distinction. Additionally, you can view at a glance which specific advanced features each provider supports—whether it’s ephemeral resources, Terraform search, Terraform actions, or a combination thereof. This streamlined search experience saves time and helps you make informed decisions.

6. Commitment to Security and Best Practices

The Partner Premier tier isn’t just about features; it’s a commitment to security and ongoing support. Partners must adhere to HashiCorp’s security best practices, which include regular vulnerability scanning, secure coding standards, and responsive maintenance. The SBOM requirement adds an extra layer of transparency, while the focus on ephemeral resources and actions reduces the risk of credential leakage or misconfiguration. For enterprises that require robust governance and audit trails, this tier provides confidence that the provider has been vetted for both technical quality and security hygiene.

7. Launch Partners Leading the Way

The Partner Premier tier launched with two prominent partners already setting the standard: Scaleway and Cisco. Scaleway enables lifecycle management beyond basic CRUD—offering actions like server reboots, instance snapshots, database management, and VPN configuration. Cisco brings automated configuration saves and commits for both IOS and NX‑OS devices. These launch partners demonstrate how the tier helps users move from simple provisioning to full‑spectrum infrastructure automation. More partners are expected to join as the program matures, further enriching the Terraform ecosystem.

The Partner Premier tier marks an important evolution for the Terraform Registry. By rewarding providers that invest in advanced features, security transparency, and SBOM compliance, HashiCorp is giving end users a powerful way to choose trustworthy, future‑ready infrastructure components. Whether you’re managing Day‑0 provisioning or complex Day‑2 operations, this new standard helps you automate with confidence.