Secrets Glossary

Browse 6 secrets terms defined in plain English, from the cultural dictionary of computing.

6 Secrets Terms

Credential
A secret or proof of identity used to authenticate a user, service, or application, such as a password, token, certificate, or API key. Credentials must be...
Credential Rotation
The practice of periodically replacing secrets (API keys, database passwords, certificates) with new ones and invalidating the old. Limits the blast radius of...
Cryptographic Key
A secret or semi-public value used by a cryptographic algorithm to encrypt, decrypt, sign, verify, or derive other secrets. Key management quality often...
Decryption Key
The cryptographic key used to convert ciphertext into plaintext, either directly in symmetric systems or as the private component in appropriate asymmetric...
HashiCorp Vault
A secrets-management system used to store, issue, and control access to credentials, keys, and other sensitive configuration.
PIN
A short numeric secret used to verify a user's identity during access to a device, account, or transaction. It shows up in application security, identity,...

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