What does Vault do with static secrets?

Vault treats static secrets with a strong emphasis on security, which is why storing them behind its cryptographic barrier is the correct answer. This means that any static secrets, which can include sensitive information like API keys, passwords, or certificates, are securely stored in an encrypted format. The cryptographic barrier protects these secrets from unauthorized access, ensuring that only clients with the appropriate permissions can retrieve and decrypt the secrets when needed.

This approach helps safeguard sensitive data, as it is not stored in plaintext, which would pose a significant security risk. By encrypting the secrets, Vault also ensures that they remain confidential and integral within the overall security model. Additionally, while Vault does offer features for revoking secrets, static secrets themselves do not automatically expire or get revoked without specific configurations or policies being set. The encryption process used by Vault is also done at rest and in transit, providing another layer of security for static secrets beyond just being stored.