What functionality does Vault provide for certificate management?

Vault provides robust functionality for certificate management, particularly in the area of defining and programmatically generating certificates. This capability is a part of Vault's PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) secrets engine, which allows users to create and manage their own certificate authorities (CAs) and the certificates they issue.

Through the PKI secrets engine, users can define parameters such as validity periods, allowed domains, and other settings, allowing for dynamic generation of certificates as needed for applications or services. This process can be automated and incorporated into workflows, making it easier to manage certificates in a scalable and secure way.

While the ability to store certificates securely is a feature of Vault, it is not its sole function regarding certificates. Vault goes beyond basic storage by incorporating capabilities for generation and management, which enhances its utility in a DevOps or cloud-native environment.

Additionally, certificate analysis and verification are not primary functionalities provided by Vault; rather, it focuses on issuance and management. Similarly, while manual management is possible, Vault's strengths lie in automation and programmatic management, providing significant advantages in terms of security and efficiency.