Vault by HashiCorp

HashiCorp Vault Provides Flexible Security Features for Various Use Cases

HashiCorp Vault offers a wide range of flexible security features suitable for different application environments, from secrets management to data encryption. Below is a breakdown of Vault’s features into four key use cases, helping users relate them to real-world security challenges (e.g., managing API keys, issuing SSL certificates).

1. Secrets Management

Use-case:

• Manage and store sensitive information (API keys, passwords, tokens).
• Generate dynamic credentials (Dynamic Secrets) to minimize security risks.

Key Features:

• KV Secrets Engine: Stores secrets as key-value pairs.
• Dynamic Secrets: Generates and manages dynamic credentials for databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL) and cloud services (AWS, Azure).
• Audit Logging: Tracks access to secrets.
• Token Management: Issues short-lived access tokens to reduce exposure risks.

Implementation Example:

• Securely store and retrieve AWS API keys.
• Generate temporary database passwords for web applications.

2. Certificate Management

Use-case:

• Automatically issue, renew, and revoke SSL/TLS certificates.
• Manage certificates for internal applications or services.

Key Features:

• PKI Secrets Engine: Creates and manages a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
• Automated Certificate Renewal: Ensures certificates are renewed automatically.
• Certificate Revocation: Revokes certificates when no longer needed.

Implementation Example:

• Automatically issue SSL certificates for internal services using the PKI Secrets Engine.
• Renew TLS certificates for web servers without manual intervention.

3. Multi-cloud Key Management

Use-case:

• Manage the lifecycle of encryption keys across multiple cloud environments.
• Integrate with cloud-based Key Management Services (KMS) from AWS, Azure, and GCP.

Key Features:

• Transit Secrets Engine: Encrypts and decrypts data without storing it.
• Key Rotation: Automatically rotates encryption keys for enhanced security.
• Multi-cloud Support: Integrates with AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, and GCP KMS.

Implementation Example:

• Manage encryption keys for data stored on AWS and Azure from a central system.
• Grant temporary encryption key access to cloud applications.

4. Data Protection

Use-case:

• Encrypt sensitive data before storage.
• Ensure compliance with security standards (GDPR, PCI DSS).

Key Features:

• Encryption as a Service (Transit Secrets Engine): Encrypts data in transit and decrypts on demand.
• Data Key Generation: Creates Data Encryption Keys (DEK) for securing data.
• HSM (Hardware Security Module) Integration: Enhances security through HSM integration.
• Backup Encryption: Encrypts data backups for added protection.

Implementation Example:

• Encrypt customer data before storing it in a database.
• Use Vault-managed encryption keys to secure data in an S3 bucket.