What is Secrets Management?

Secrets management is the practice of securely handling sensitive information - such as passwords, API keys, tokens, certificates, and encryption keys - throughout their entire lifecycle. It ensures secrets are stored securely, accessed only by authorized entities, and rotated regularly.

Types of Secrets

API keys and tokens
Database credentials
SSH keys
TLS/SSL certificates
Encryption keys
Service account credentials
OAuth client secrets

Key Capabilities

Secure Storage

Encrypted at rest
Access controls
Audit logging

Access Management

Authentication required
Fine-grained permissions
Just-in-time access

Lifecycle Management

Automated rotation
Expiration policies
Revocation capabilities

Integration

API access
CI/CD integration
Container orchestration support

Secrets Management Tools

HashiCorp Vault
AWS Secrets Manager
Azure Key Vault
Google Secret Manager
CyberArk
1Password (teams)

Best Practices

Never hardcode secrets
Use environment variables or secrets managers
Rotate secrets regularly
Implement least privilege
Audit secret access
Use short-lived credentials
Separate secrets by environment

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Secrets in source code
Secrets in configuration files
Sharing secrets via email/chat
Long-lived credentials
Overly broad access