Kubernetes: External Secrets Operator vs. CSI Driver, A Deep Dive Secret Management
Introduction In Kubernetes, managing secrets like API keys and database passwords is a critical task. While Kubernetes has a built-in Secret object, its default base64 encoding doesn't offer strong protection. This has led to the rise of better solutions. This article will introduce the external-secrets project, compare it with the popular Secrets Store CSI Driver, and explore other leading solutions to help everyone choose the right tool for their needs. What is External Secrets Operator? External Secrets Operator (ESO) is a Kubernetes operator that bridges the gap between external secret management systems and a Kubernetes cluster. It reads secrets from providers like AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault, or Google Secret Manager and automatically creates and synchronizes them as native Kubernetes Secret objects within the cluster. The core idea is simple: the source of truth for secrets remains in a secure, external vault. ESO ensures that a...