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How does Azure Key Vault help in securing application secrets and managing encryption keys?
Azure Key Vault is a cloud service that helps secure cryptographic keys, secrets (such as API keys, passwords, certificates), and manage encryption keys for cloud applications. It provides a centralized, secure storage mechanism that enables fine-grained access control and compliance with security best practices.
Key features of Azure Key Vault include:
- Secure Secret Storage: Protects sensitive application data by storing them in a secure vault, reducing exposure risks.
- Access Control with Azure AD: Uses Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication to control access, ensuring only authorized applications and users can retrieve secrets.
- Automated Key Rotation: Supports automatic rotation of keys and certificates, minimizing security risks from stale credentials.
- Encryption Key Management: Allows applications to use Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) or software-based keys for encrypting and decrypting data.
- Logging and Monitoring: Integrates with Azure Monitor and Microsoft Defender for Cloud to track usage and detect anomalies.
By using Azure Key Vault, organizations can enhance security, reduce the need for embedding secrets in code, and simplify the management of cryptographic assets across their cloud environments.
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Centralized Secret management: Stores API Keys, password, certificates and cryptographic keys in a single secure location
Hardware Security module (HSM)-backed Keys: supports hardware-backed keys for enhanced security
Key Lifecycle management: Enables key generation, storage, rotation, and deletion with in a managed environment.
Secure Application Integration:
Managed Identity integration, RBAC, Firewall controls
Compliance and Regulatory Support:
FIPS 140-2 Level 2 & Level 3 Compliance, Geo replication and backup:
