What are the differences between Ansible Vault and other secret management tools?

What are the differences between Ansible Vault and other secret management tools?

Ansible Vault is primarily designed for encrypting sensitive data within Ansible projects. Unlike other tools like HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager, it focuses on simplicity and integration with Ansible playbooks.

Can you explain how Ansible Vault works?

Sure! Ansible Vault allows you to encrypt files or variables, making them secure. You can create a vault file using the command ansible-vault create filename.yml, and then edit or view it with ansible-vault edit filename.yml.

What are the advantages of using Ansible Vault over HashiCorp Vault?

Ansible Vault is easier to set up for users already familiar with Ansible, as it integrates directly into playbooks. However, HashiCorp Vault offers more advanced features like dynamic secrets and fine-grained access control.

Are there any limitations to using Ansible Vault?

Yes, some limitations include its lack of advanced secret management features and the need to manage encryption keys manually, which can be cumbersome for larger teams.