Credential rotation is the process of regularly updating or replacing authentication credentials—such as passwords, API keys, tokens, or certificates—to reduce the risk of unauthorized access due to compromised credentials. It is a critical security practice that limits the window of opportunity for attackers if credentials are leaked or stolen.
How It Works:
- Scheduled Rotation: Credentials are changed at predefined intervals (e.g., every 90 days for passwords, or every 30 days for API keys).
- Event-Driven Rotation: Credentials are rotated immediately after suspicious activity (e.g., a breach, unauthorized access attempt, or employee role change).
- Automated Rotation: Systems automatically generate and distribute new credentials, minimizing manual intervention and human error.
Authentication Mechanisms & Rotation:
- Passwords: Users are prompted to change passwords periodically or when reuse is detected.
- API Keys/Tokens: Services generate new keys and deprecate old ones, requiring applications to fetch updated credentials.
- Certificates: TLS/SSL certificates are rotated before expiration to maintain secure communications.
- SSH Keys: Rotated to prevent long-term unauthorized access to servers.
Example:
A cloud-based application uses an API key to authenticate requests to a backend service. To enhance security, the key is rotated every 30 days. The application fetches the new key from a secure vault (e.g., Tencent Cloud Secrets Manager) and updates its configuration without downtime.
Tencent Cloud Solutions:
- Tencent Cloud Secrets Manager: Securely stores and rotates credentials (API keys, passwords, certificates) automatically.
- Tencent Cloud CAM (Cloud Access Management): Manages permissions and supports temporary credentials with built-in expiration.
- Tencent Cloud Key Management Service (KMS): Helps encrypt and rotate encryption keys used for authentication.
By integrating credential rotation with these services, organizations can enforce strong security policies while minimizing operational overhead.