What's the best way to securely manage API keys in a development environment?

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What's the best way to securely manage API keys in a development environment?

Asked on Dec 29, 2025

Answer

Securely managing API keys in a development environment is crucial to prevent unauthorized access and potential data breaches. Best practices involve using environment variables, secure storage solutions, and access controls to protect these sensitive credentials.

Example Concept: Use environment variables to store API keys securely by keeping them outside the source code. Implement a secrets management tool like HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager to manage and rotate keys automatically. Ensure that access to these keys is restricted to only those who need it, using IAM roles and permissions to enforce least privilege access.

Additional Comment:

Never hardcode API keys directly into your source code.
Regularly rotate API keys and audit their usage.
Use encryption to protect API keys at rest and in transit.
Implement logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts.

✅ Answered with Cybersecurity best practices.

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