Kubernetes Secrets Management

Introduction:

As modern applications grow in complexity and scale, managing sensitive data—such as API keys, passwords, tokens, and certificates—has become a top priority. Kubernetes, the de facto container orchestration platform, offers a native way to store and manage this type of sensitive information through Kubernetes Secrets.

 What Are Kubernetes Secrets?

Kubernetes Secrets are objects used to store and manage sensitive information. Instead of embedding confidential data directly in Pod definitions or container images, Secrets allow you to decouple this information, keeping your infrastructure more secure and maintainable.

Common Use Cases:

• Database credentials

• TLS certificates

• SSH keys

• OAuth tokens

• API keys for third-party services

How Kubernetes Secrets Work:

Secrets are stored in etcd (Kubernetes' key-value store) and can be used in Pods as:

• Environment variables

• Volumes

• Mounted files

Best Practices for Kubernetes Secrets Management:

1. Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Use RBAC to restrict access to secrets only to users and service accounts that absolutely need them.

2. Enable Encryption at Rest

By default, secrets are stored unencrypted in etcd. Encrypt them using a provider like KMS, AES-CBC, or secretbox.

3. Use External Secret Management Systems

Integrate Kubernetes with external secret managers like:

• HashiCorp Vault

• AWS Secrets Manager

• Azure Key Vault

• Google Secret Manager

4. Avoid Committing Secrets to Git

Never store raw Kubernetes secret manifests in version control. Use tools like Sealed Secrets or SOPS to encrypt them.

5. Monitor and Audit Secret Usage

Enable audit logging to track access to secrets. Monitor for unauthorized or suspicious activities using tools like Falco or Kubernetes Audit Logs.

6. Set Expiry and Rotation Policies

Manually rotate secrets regularly or automate it via tools like Vault or cert-manager. This reduces the risk from leaked or compromised credentials.

Tools for Managing Secrets in Kubernetes:

Tool	Description
Sealed Secrets	Encrypt secrets so they can be safely stored in Git
HashiCorp Vault	Advanced secrets lifecycle management
External Secrets Operator	Sync secrets from cloud secret stores into Kubernetes
cert-manager	Manage and auto-renew TLS certificates

Conclusion:

Kubernetes Secrets are powerful—but not secure by default. As you scale your infrastructure and handle more sensitive data, robust secrets management becomes a non-negotiable aspect of your DevOps strategy.