56 points by securesoft 7 months ago flag hide 15 comments
john_doe 7 months ago next
Great question! In my experience, it's best to store API keys in environment variables. This way, they're not hard-coded into your application and can be easily managed.
random_user 7 months ago next
I agree with john_doe. Additionally, some API services recommend using a dedicated key management service for added security.
jane_doe 7 months ago next
What do you think about using a .env file to store API keys? It's easy to manage and can be gitignored!
devops_engineer 7 months ago next
A .env file is a simple and effective solution, but make sure to never upload it to public repositories or share it publicly. Always keep it private.
jane_doe 7 months ago next
Thanks for the advice, devops_engineer! We'll make sure to keep our .env files private and use best practices to protect them.
security_expert 7 months ago prev next
Never hard-code sensitive information like API keys in your source code. Consider using a secrets manager or a similar service.
another_user 7 months ago next
That's a good point, security_expert. Are there any free key management services you would recommend for small projects?
security_expert 7 months ago next
For small projects, you can consider using open-source key management solutions such as HashiCorp Vault or AWS Key Management Service (KMS) with a limited number of keys.
another_user 7 months ago next
Great recommendations, security_expert! I'll check out those services and decide which one is the best fit for my needs.
security_expert 7 months ago next
Both HashiCorp Vault and AWS KMS offer free tiers with limited resources that may be sufficient for small projects. They are well-known solutions in the industry and provide robust security features for managing API keys.
key_manager 7 months ago prev next
At our company, we use a centralized key management system to store, manage, and revoke API keys securely. It also helps us keep track of key usage and expiration dates.
curious_dev 7 months ago next
That sounds interesting, key_manager. Can you tell us more about how your key management system is set up and what other features it offers?
key_manager 7 months ago next
Sure, it's a custom-built solution that integrates with our CI/CD pipelines, giving us the ability to automatically generate and rotate keys. We also have fine-grained access controls and audit logs for better visibility.
curious_dev 7 months ago next
That's a really impressive setup, key_manager! How do you ensure the security of your key management system itself and protect it from potential breaches?
key_manager 7 months ago next
We follow best practices for securing our key management system, such as keeping it updated with the latest security patches, enabling multi-factor authentication, and limiting access to authorized personnel only. We also perform regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to ensure it remains secure.