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What are the best practices for credential rotation?

Created on 2025-07-29 18:35:23
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Best practices for credential rotation involve systematically updating access credentials (like passwords, API keys, or tokens) to minimize security risks from compromised or outdated credentials. Here’s a breakdown with examples and relevant cloud recommendations:

  1. Regular Rotation Schedule

    • Define fixed intervals (e.g., every 90 days for passwords, 30 days for API keys).
    • Example: Rotate database passwords quarterly and rotate IAM user access keys every 60 days.

  2. Automate Rotation

    • Use tools or scripts to rotate credentials without manual intervention.
    • Example: For cloud services, automate API key rotation via scripts or native features. On Tencent Cloud, use Secrets Manager to automatically rotate secrets (like database credentials) on a schedule.

  3. Immediate Rotation After Compromise

    • Rotate credentials immediately if there’s suspicion of misuse (e.g., leaked keys, unauthorized access).
    • Example: If an employee’s access key is exposed, revoke and regenerate it instantly. On Tencent Cloud, use CAM (Cloud Access Management) to quickly disable or reissue compromised credentials.

  4. Least Privilege Principle

    • Rotate credentials for accounts with minimal necessary permissions to limit exposure.
    • Example: Rotate API keys for a service that only needs read access, not full admin rights.

  5. Audit and Logging

    • Track credential changes and access logs to detect anomalies.
    • Example: Monitor Tencent Cloud CloudAudit (CAM Audit) to review who rotated credentials and when.

  6. Grace Periods for Deprecation

    • Allow a short transition period before old credentials expire (e.g., old API keys work for 24 hours after rotation).

Tencent Cloud Services for Credential Rotation:

  • Secrets Manager: Automates rotation for databases, Redis, and other secrets.
  • CAM (Cloud Access Management): Manages and rotates IAM user keys securely.
  • CloudAudit: Logs all credential-related actions for compliance.

Example Workflow: Use Secrets Manager to store and rotate a MySQL database password every 30 days, while CAM handles IAM key rotation for developers.