diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index df17792a..b210375c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ The following inputs can be used as `step.with` keys
 | `aws_ecs_service_launch_type`| String | Configuration type. Could be `EC2`, `FARGATE` or `EXTERNAL`. Defaults to `FARGATE`. |
 | `aws_ecs_task_type`| String | Configuration type. Could be `EC2`, `FARGATE` or empty. Will default to `aws_ecs_service_launch_type` if none defined. (Blank if `EXTERNAL`). |
 | `aws_ecs_task_name`| String | Elastic Container Service task name. If task is defined with a JSON file, should be the same as the container name. |
+| `aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition`| Boolean | Toggle to ignore task definition changes after first deployment. Useful when using external tools to manage the task definition. Default: `false`. |
 | `aws_ecs_task_execution_role`| String | Elastic Container Service task execution role name from IAM. Defaults to `ecsTaskExecutionRole`. |
 | `aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file`| String | Name of the json file containing task definition. Overrides every other input. |
 | `aws_ecs_task_network_mode`| String | Network type to use in task definition. One of `none`, `bridge`, `awsvpc`, and `host`. |
diff --git a/action.yaml b/action.yaml
index 39c798ca..31a72466 100644
--- a/action.yaml
+++ b/action.yaml
@@ -808,6 +808,9 @@ inputs:
   aws_ecs_task_name:
     description: 'Elastic Container Service task name'
     required: false
+  aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition:
+    description: 'Toggle to ignore task definition changes after first deployment. Useful when using external tools to manage the task definition.'
+    required: false
   aws_ecs_task_execution_role:
     description: 'Elastic Container Service task execution role name from IAM. Defaults to "ecsTaskExecutionRole"'
     required: false
@@ -1438,6 +1441,7 @@ runs:
         AWS_ECS_SERVICE_LAUNCH_TYPE : ${{ inputs.aws_ecs_service_launch_type }}
         AWS_ECS_TASK_TYPE : ${{ inputs.aws_ecs_task_type }}
         AWS_ECS_TASK_NAME: ${{ inputs.aws_ecs_task_name }}
+        AWS_ECS_TASK_IGNORE_DEFINITION: ${{ inputs.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition }}
         AWS_ECS_TASK_EXECUTION_ROLE: ${{ inputs.aws_ecs_task_execution_role }}
         AWS_ECS_TASK_JSON_DEFINITION_FILE: ${{ inputs.aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file }}
         AWS_ECS_TASK_NETWORK_MODE: ${{ inputs.aws_ecs_task_network_mode }}
diff --git a/operations/_scripts/generate/generate_vars_terraform.sh b/operations/_scripts/generate/generate_vars_terraform.sh
index ec6a693d..9c3165ca 100644
--- a/operations/_scripts/generate/generate_vars_terraform.sh
+++ b/operations/_scripts/generate/generate_vars_terraform.sh
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ if [[ $(alpha_only "$AWS_ECS_ENABLE") == true ]]; then
   aws_ecs_service_launch_type=$(generate_var aws_ecs_service_launch_type $AWS_ECS_SERVICE_LAUNCH_TYPE)
   aws_ecs_task_type=$(generate_var aws_ecs_task_type $AWS_ECS_TASK_TYPE)
   aws_ecs_task_name=$(generate_var aws_ecs_task_name $AWS_ECS_TASK_NAME)
+  aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition=$(generate_var aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition $AWS_ECS_TASK_IGNORE_DEFINITION)
   aws_ecs_task_execution_role=$(generate_var aws_ecs_task_execution_role $AWS_ECS_TASK_EXECUTION_ROLE)
   aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file=$(generate_var aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file $AWS_ECS_TASK_JSON_DEFINITION_FILE)
   aws_ecs_task_network_mode=$(generate_var aws_ecs_task_network_mode $AWS_ECS_TASK_NETWORK_MODE)
@@ -665,6 +666,7 @@ $aws_ecs_cluster_name
 $aws_ecs_service_launch_type
 $aws_ecs_task_type
 $aws_ecs_task_name
+$aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition
 $aws_ecs_task_execution_role
 $aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file
 $aws_ecs_task_network_mode
diff --git a/operations/deployment/terraform/aws/aws_variables.tf b/operations/deployment/terraform/aws/aws_variables.tf
index 49c9541a..af39e0a1 100644
--- a/operations/deployment/terraform/aws/aws_variables.tf
+++ b/operations/deployment/terraform/aws/aws_variables.tf
@@ -1349,6 +1349,12 @@ variable "aws_ecs_task_name" {
   default     = ""
 }
 
+variable "aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition" {
+  type        = bool
+  description = "Toggle ignoring changes to the task definition"
+  default     = false
+}
+
 variable "aws_ecs_task_execution_role" {
   type        = string
   description = "Elastic Container Service task execution role name."
diff --git a/operations/deployment/terraform/aws/bitovi_main.tf b/operations/deployment/terraform/aws/bitovi_main.tf
index 1c4a4ebb..5667207d 100644
--- a/operations/deployment/terraform/aws/bitovi_main.tf
+++ b/operations/deployment/terraform/aws/bitovi_main.tf
@@ -468,6 +468,7 @@ module "aws_ecs" {
   aws_ecs_service_launch_type        = var.aws_ecs_service_launch_type
   aws_ecs_task_type                  = var.aws_ecs_task_type
   aws_ecs_task_name                  = var.aws_ecs_task_name
+  aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition     = var.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition
   aws_ecs_task_execution_role        = var.aws_ecs_task_execution_role
   aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file  = var.aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file
   aws_ecs_task_network_mode          = var.aws_ecs_task_network_mode
diff --git a/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs.tf b/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs.tf
index d3a70518..4ea5ebf3 100644
--- a/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs.tf
+++ b/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs.tf
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ locals {
 }
 
 resource "aws_ecs_task_definition" "ecs_task" {
-  count                    = length(local.aws_ecs_app_image)
+  count                    = var.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition ? 0 : length(local.aws_ecs_app_image)
   family                   = var.aws_ecs_task_name  != "" ? local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index] : "${local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index]}${count.index}"
   network_mode             = local.aws_ecs_task_network_mode[count.index]
   requires_compatibilities = [local.aws_ecs_task_type[count.index]]
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ resource "aws_ecs_task_definition" "ecs_task" {
 }
 
 resource "aws_ecs_task_definition" "ecs_task_from_json" {
-  count                    = length(local.aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file)
+  count                    = var.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition ? 0 : length(local.aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file)
   family                   = var.aws_ecs_task_name != "" ? local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index + length(local.aws_ecs_app_image)] : "${local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index + length(local.aws_ecs_app_image)]}${count.index+length(local.aws_ecs_app_image)}"
   network_mode             = local.aws_ecs_task_network_mode[count.index + length(local.aws_ecs_app_image)]
   requires_compatibilities = ["${local.aws_ecs_task_type[count.index +length(local.aws_ecs_app_image)]}"]
@@ -73,13 +73,63 @@ resource "aws_ecs_task_definition" "ecs_task_from_json" {
   container_definitions    = sensitive(file("../../ansible/clone_repo/app/${var.app_repo_name}/${local.aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file[count.index]}"))
 }
 
+resource "aws_ecs_task_definition" "aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition" {
+  count                    = var.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition ? 1 : 0
+  family                   = var.aws_ecs_task_name  != "" ? local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index] : "${local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index]}${count.index}"
+  network_mode             = local.aws_ecs_task_network_mode[count.index]
+  requires_compatibilities = [local.aws_ecs_task_type[count.index]]
+  cpu                      = local.aws_ecs_task_cpu[count.index]
+  memory                   = local.aws_ecs_task_mem[count.index]
+  execution_role_arn       = local.ecsTaskExecutionRole
+  container_definitions    = sensitive(jsonencode([
+    {
+      "name": var.aws_ecs_task_name != "" ? local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index] : "${local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index]}${count.index}",
+      "image": "nginx:alpine",
+      "essential": true,
+      "portMappings": [
+        {
+          "containerPort": 80,
+          "protocol": "tcp",
+          "hostPort": 80,
+          "appProtocol": "http"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  ]))
+  lifecycle {
+    ignore_changes = [container_definitions]
+  }
+}
+
 locals {
-  tasks_arns  = concat(aws_ecs_task_definition.ecs_task[*].arn,aws_ecs_task_definition.ecs_task_from_json[*].arn)
-  tasks_count = length(local.aws_ecs_app_image) + length(local.aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file)
+  tasks_arns  = concat(aws_ecs_task_definition.ecs_task[*].arn,aws_ecs_task_definition.ecs_task_from_json[*].arn,aws_ecs_task_definition.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition[*].arn)
+  tasks_count = var.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition ? 1 : length(local.aws_ecs_app_image) + length(local.aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file)
 }
 
 resource "aws_ecs_service" "ecs_service" {
-  count            = local.tasks_count
+  count            = var.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition ? 0 : local.tasks_count
+  name             = var.aws_ecs_service_name != "" ? "${var.aws_ecs_service_name}${count.index}" : "${var.aws_resource_identifier}-${count.index}-service"
+  cluster          = aws_ecs_cluster.cluster.id
+  task_definition = local.tasks_arns[count.index]
+
+  desired_count    = local.aws_ecs_node_count[count.index]
+  launch_type      = var.aws_ecs_service_launch_type
+
+  network_configuration {
+    security_groups  = [aws_security_group.ecs_sg.id]
+    subnets          = var.aws_selected_subnets
+    assign_public_ip = var.aws_ecs_assign_public_ip
+  }
+
+  load_balancer {
+    target_group_arn = aws_alb_target_group.lb_targets[count.index].id
+    container_name   = var.aws_ecs_task_name != "" ? local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index] : "${local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index]}${count.index}"
+    container_port   = local.aws_ecs_container_port[count.index]
+  }
+}
+
+resource "aws_ecs_service" "ecs_service_ignore_definition" {
+  count            = var.aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition ? 1 : 0
   name             = var.aws_ecs_service_name != "" ? "${var.aws_ecs_service_name}${count.index}" : "${var.aws_resource_identifier}-${count.index}-service"
   cluster          = aws_ecs_cluster.cluster.id
   task_definition = local.tasks_arns[count.index]
@@ -98,6 +148,10 @@ resource "aws_ecs_service" "ecs_service" {
     container_name   = var.aws_ecs_task_name != "" ? local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index] : "${local.aws_ecs_task_name[count.index]}${count.index}"
     container_port   = local.aws_ecs_container_port[count.index]
   }
+
+  lifecycle {
+    ignore_changes = [task_definition]
+  }
 }
 
 # Cloudwatch config
diff --git a/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs_networking.tf b/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs_networking.tf
index 3811f382..4b22bdd2 100644
--- a/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs_networking.tf
+++ b/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs_networking.tf
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ resource "aws_alb" "ecs_lb" {
   }
 }
 
+data "aws_alb" "selected_lb" {
+  name = var.aws_resource_identifier_supershort
+  depends_on = [ aws_alb.ecs_lb ]
+}
+
 resource "aws_alb_target_group" "lb_targets" {
   count       = length(local.aws_ecs_container_port)
   name        = "${var.aws_resource_identifier_supershort}${count.index}"
@@ -233,7 +238,8 @@ output "load_balancer_protocol" {
 }
 
 output "load_balancer_zone_id" {
-  value = aws_alb.ecs_lb.zone_id
+  #value = aws_alb.ecs_lb.zone_id
+  value = data.aws_alb.selected_lb.zone_id
 }
 
 output "load_balancer_arn" {
diff --git a/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs_vars.tf b/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs_vars.tf
index 15a907a9..e7dafbc3 100644
--- a/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs_vars.tf
+++ b/operations/deployment/terraform/modules/aws/ecs/aws_ecs_vars.tf
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ variable "aws_ecs_cluster_name" {}
 variable "aws_ecs_service_launch_type" {}
 variable "aws_ecs_task_type" {}
 variable "aws_ecs_task_name" {}
+variable "aws_ecs_task_ignore_definition" {}
 variable "aws_ecs_task_execution_role" {}
 variable "aws_ecs_task_json_definition_file" {}
 variable "aws_ecs_task_network_mode" {}