aws-secrets-manager-integration

name	aws-secrets-manager-integration
description	To retrieve secrets (database credentials, API keys) at runtime rather than storing them in environment variables or config files, enabling automatic rotation and better security. Use when: High-security environments; When key rotation is required by compliance.

Purpose

To retrieve secrets (database credentials, API keys) at runtime rather than storing them in environment variables or config files, enabling automatic rotation and better security.

When to Use

• High-security environments.
• When key rotation is required by compliance.

Procedure

1. Store Secret: Create a secret in AWS Secrets Manager (JSON key/value).
2. IAM Role: Grant the application's IAM Role permission to secretsmanager:GetSecretValue.
3. Application Code:
   • Use AWS SDK (@aws-sdk/client-secrets-manager).
   • On startup, fetch the secret by ID.
   • Parse JSON and set config values.
4. Caching: Cache the secret in memory for a short duration to avoid hitting API limits and latency costs.
5. Rotation: (Advanced) Configure Lambda to rotate the secret (e.g., change DB password) automatically.

Constraints

• Handle network failures when fetching secrets.
• Do not log the retrieved secrets.
• Fallback strategy (if service is down) - usually fail hard for security.

Expected Output

An application that boots up by fetching its configuration securely from a managed vault service.