The practice of regularly changing or updating authentication credentials to enhance security.
Description
Credential rotation is a critical practice in the management of non-human identities, such as service accounts, API keys, or application credentials. These identities are often used by automated systems, applications, or services to interact with each other in a secure manner. By regularly rotating credentials, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with credential compromise, such as unauthorized access or data breaches. The rotation process typically involves generating new passwords, API keys, or tokens and updating the systems or services that rely on these credentials. This practice helps to ensure that even if credentials are exposed, their usability is limited to a defined period, thus reducing the potential impact of such exposure. Credential rotation can be automated through identity management systems, which can not only enforce policies around rotation frequency but also manage the distribution of new credentials securely. Implementing a robust credential rotation strategy is essential in maintaining the security posture of an organization in today's threat landscape.
Examples
- Rotating API keys for a cloud service every 90 days.
- Changing service account passwords following a security incident.
Additional Information
- Credential rotation can be automated using tools like AWS Secrets Manager or HashiCorp Vault.
- Best practices include coupling credential rotation with monitoring for unauthorized access attempts.