Security in Amazon Web Services (CISN 74A) Practice Test

AWS Secrets Manager is designed specifically for securely storing and managing sensitive information, such as database credentials, API keys, and other secrets. It offers several features that enhance security and operational efficiency, including automatic rotation of secrets, integrated access control with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), and a robust auditing mechanism that allows you to track access to these secrets. This service helps organizations reduce the risk associated with hardcoding sensitive information directly into application code or configuration files, thus enhancing overall security.

While AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store also provides a way to store configurations and secrets, it does not offer the same automated secret rotation capabilities that Secrets Manager does, making Secrets Manager the more suitable choice for managing sensitive items effectively. AWS Config is designed for resource compliance and configuration monitoring, and AWS CloudTrail is focused on logging and monitoring account activity, making them unsuitable for secure storage of sensitive credentials.