How to Manage Secrets in Terraform?
Source: YouTube · Anton Putra · published Apr 29, 2023 · 15:54
The video explains how to securely handle sensitive data like API keys and database credentials in Terraform, preventing exposure in Git repositories or Terraform state files 0:00.
Key Takeaways:
• Never store secrets in plain text in Terraform code, even in private repositories, as anyone with version control access can view them 0:48
• Terraform state files contain secrets in plain text, requiring encrypted backends like S3 with restricted access controls 1:47
• Environment variables approach: using TF_VAR_ prefixed variables with tools like 'pass' to avoid storing secrets in history files 3:46
• Encryption methods: using AWS KMS, GCP KMS, or SOPS to create encrypted files that can be safely stored in version control 10:13
• Cloud-based solutions: AWS Secrets Manager provides a secure way to store and retrieve secrets directly in Terraform code 14:27
The video recommends avoiding plain text secrets, using encrypted Terraform backends, and implementing secure methods to input secrets into Terraform code 15:30.
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Transcript Preview
First 800 characters of the transcript
At some point when working with Terraform,
you'll likely need to handle sensitive data like API keys or database credentials. Here's an example of Terraform code used to
create a managed database on AWS. In this case you must provide username and
a password. The challenge is to securely handle these
credentials and prevent them from being accidentally exposed in the Git repository or the Terraform
state. In this video, we'll explore a range of solutions,
starting with basic approaches like using environment variables, moving on to encrypting
secrets with KMS, PGP, and SOPS. And finally going full cloud native and using
cloud-based services such as AWS and GCP secret managers. First and foremost, don't save sensitive data,
such as database login credentials, in plain text in your Terraform …