# secret management

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/secret-management
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

the way a company or computer system keeps private information safe. It involves controlling who can see passwords, digital keys, and other sensitive data.

For teachers: the systematic process of managing digital authentication credentials, such as passwords, API keys, and certificates, to ensure they are stored and accessed securely. Often involves the use of specialized software to automate the rotation and distribution of these credentials.

## Examples

- Good secret management keeps our passwords safe.
- The engineering team implemented a new secret management tool to prevent developers from accidentally sharing API keys in their code.
- Robust secret management is essential for modern cloud infrastructure, as it centralizes the control of sensitive credentials and provides an audit trail for every access request made by an application.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the context of cybersecurity and software development; often refers to both the practice and the software tools used.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.