nanyang-system-developers

Secrets and Environment Variables

Overview

Managing sensitive information and configuration settings is crucial in modern applications. Secrets and environment variables provide a secure way to handle this data without exposing it in the codebase.

Secrets

Secrets are sensitive pieces of information that should never be exposed in code or version control:

• API keys
• Database credentials
• Authentication tokens
• Private keys
• Other confidential data

Best Practices

1. Never commit secrets to version control; secrets must never be pasted into a code file, and any files containing secrets must never be committed or pushed to a repository
2. Use environment variables to access secrets in code
3. Rotate secrets regularly
4. Limit access to secrets to only those who need them
5. Use encryption for storing secrets
6. Monitor secret usage and access patterns

Environment Variables

Environment variables are dynamic values that can affect the way running processes behave on a computer. They are used to:

• Store configuration settings
• Define environment-specific values
• Access secrets securely
• Control application behavior

Accessing Environment Variables

In Python:

import os
api_key = os.getenv('API_KEY')

In JavaScript:

const apiKey = process.env.API_KEY;

Managing secrets

Storing secrets in a local file

Storing secrets in a local file can be a simple way to manage sensitive information for development purposes. However, it requires careful handling to prevent accidental exposure. Follow these guidelines to store secrets locally:

1. Use a dedicated file: Create a separate file, such as .env, to store your secrets. This file should never be committed to version control.

2. Restrict permissions: Ensure that only authorized users and processes have access to the secret file. Use system file permissions to restrict access, such as setting the file mode to 600 on Unix systems.

3. Encrypt the file: If possible, encrypt the contents of the secret file to add an additional layer of security.

4. Use environment variable libraries: In languages like Python and Node.js, use libraries such as python-dotenv or dotenv to load the secrets from the file into environment variables easily.

5. Regularly update secrets: Change the secrets frequently and update the file, ensuring to maintain backups of previous versions securely.

6. Monitor access: Keep track of who accesses or modifies the secret file to detect any unauthorized attempts.

   Using Replit’s Secrets Tool

Replit provides a secure Secrets management tool that automatically makes secrets available as environment variables:

1. Navigate to the Tools pane and select Secrets
2. Click “+ New Secret” to add a secret
3. Enter the key and value
4. Access in code using standard environment variable methods

Security Considerations

• Encrypt sensitive data at rest
• Use secure protocols for transmitting secrets
• Implement proper access controls
• Regularly audit secret usage
• Have a plan for secret rotation and revocation
• Monitor for potential security breaches

Common Use Cases

1. API Authentication
2. Database Connections
3. Feature Flags
4. Service Configuration
5. Environment-specific Settings

Best Practices for Teams

1. Document all required environment variables
2. Use consistent naming conventions
3. Maintain separate configurations for different environments
4. Implement secret rotation procedures
5. Train team members on security protocols