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Access AWS Secret manager in kubernetes

What is this template about ?

The Access AWS Secrets Manager in Kubernetes template shows you a basic and secure way of handling secrets in Kubernetes via AWS Secrets Manager. Instead of keeping secrets inside Kubernetes itself, you store them in AWS Secrets Manager, which can store sensitive material securely.
 

Then, through mechanisms like the Kubernetes Secrets Store CSI Driver and the AWS Secrets and setup Provider (ASCP), your workloads can pull the secrets themselves when they need them. Besides this, the External Secrets Operator (ESO) can automatically sync them to other namespaces in your cluster.
 

The good news is that you don't have to rotate or update secrets manually. Automatic rotation is taken care of by an AWS Lambda function, and notification in case of change is delivered by Amazon SNS so that you are aware of what has occurred. To ensure that only the correct pods can use secrets, you employ IAM Roles for Service Accounts (IRSA).
 

In short, the template gives you a picture of an end-to-end process, how secrets are securely passed from AWS to Kubernetes, how they're kept current, and how you can control who receives access.

Why this template is a game changer ?

Most teams fail with secrets because they are kept in the wrong place or must be managed manually. These are the problems that this template solves. Here's why it matters:

  • Secrets are central – Instead of having secrets scattered in multiple places, you have them all in one location in AWS Secrets Manager.
  • They are automatically distributed – The External Secrets Operator automatically synchronizes all the namespaces for you, so you don't have to manually copy anything.
  • They stay up to date – AWS Lambda also automatically rotates them on a schedule, so you're not dealing with stole passwords.
  • It is secure and controlled access – IRSA ensures the correct pods can retrieve secrets.
  • You remain up to date – Amazon SNS notifies you if a secret is updated or changed.
  • It minimizes risk- It also saves time since you don't have to chase secrets or manually update them.

Who can use this template, and when? 

This template is suitable for many types of teams and organizations:

  • Kubernetes (EKS) production workloads – If you run mission-critical workloads on Kubernetes, you need a secure way to handle secrets.
  • Cross-namespace teams – When you have a lot of namespaces, doing secrets synchronizations manually is a pain. ESO does it for you.
  • Firms with compliance requirements – If your sector requires frequent password changes, this setup does it effortlessly.
  • Teams not using static credentials – If you don't want secrets to be baked into configs or images, use this template.

The most suitable application of this template is when you are creating a new production cluster, or when you are enhancing an existing installation to make it more secure.

What are the main components of the template ?

The main components of which you can find here are:

  • AWS Secrets Manager – The secure store in which all the secrets are kept and encrypted.
  • Kubernetes Secrets Store CSI Driver – A driver that mounts secrets from an external store inside your pods.
  • AWS Secrets and Configuration Provider (ASCP) – This enables the CSI driver to talk to the AWS Secrets Manager.
  • External Secrets Operator (ESO) – Keeping secrets in sync across multiple namespaces and keeping them in sync.
  • IAM Roles for Service Accounts (IRSA) – Allows you to choose which pods can use secrets by attaching IAM roles.
  • AWS Lambda – Automatically rotates secrets so that they are always fresh and secure.
  • Amazon SNS – Notifies whenever a secret changes or rotates.

These components all work together to create a complete secret management pipeline that is secure, automated, and easy to use.

How to start using Cloudairy ?

First, open this template within Cloudairy. The graphical design will guide you step-by-step in placing each sector separately.

  • Provision your Kubernetes cluster on EKS.
  • Install Kubernetes Secrets Store CSI Driver and ASCP.
  • Deploy External Secrets Operator (ESO) to your namespaces.
  • Set up IRSA so that only the correct pods have access to specific secrets.
  • Use AWS Lambda to automatically handle rotation.
  • Connect to amazon SNS to alert you.

Cloudairy makes it easy to follow this architecture because you can see how the components all interlock. You don't have to guess or attempt to reverse-engineer it yourself.

Summary  

Handling secrets in Kubernetes is potentially dangerous and time-consuming when done manually. The template provides you with an easy solution for that issue by combining AWS Secrets Manager and Kubernetes using CSI Driver, ASCP, ESO, and IRSA. It also uses AWS Lambda for rotation and Amazon SNS for notifications. With this setup, secrets are kept safe, automatically synced between namespaces, and rotated on a regular basis.

You have enhanced security, less work, and the confidence that your workload always possesses the credentials they need, never exposing sensitive details. It is easy to use, scalable for growth, and secure for prod workloads. It is an intelligent, cutting-edge solution to manage secrets in Kubernetes and leverage the most effective AWS services.

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Design, collaborate, innovate with Cloudairy

Unlock AI-driven design and teamwork. Start your free trial today

Cloudchart
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cloudairy_ai
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whiteboard
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