# Secure Configuration

> Securely store configuration data using Kubernetes Secrets

- **Category**: Cloud
- **Subcategory**: Security
- **Canonical URL**: https://designpattern.fyi/patterns/k8s_secure_configuration/

---

## Description
The Secure Configuration pattern uses Kubernetes Secrets to securely store sensitive configuration data like passwords, API keys, and certificates. Secrets are encoded at rest and can be mounted as files or exposed as environment variables. This prevents sensitive data from being stored in plain text in ConfigMaps or application code.


## Use Cases
Use when you need to store sensitive configuration data or when you want to prevent secrets from being exposed in plain text.





## Trade-offs


### Advantages

- Encoded storage at rest

- Separate from application code

- Can be mounted as files or env vars

- Integrates with RBAC




### Considerations & Drawbacks

- Base64 encoding not encryption by default

- Requires RBAC configuration

- Limited size per Secret







---
**Reference**: [Original Source](https://github.com/k8spatterns/examples/tree/master/security/SecureConfiguration)