What is the primary function of Vault regarding credentials?

The primary function of Vault concerning credentials is to centralize them so they are defined in one location. This centralization facilitates efficient management and access control of sensitive information like API keys, passwords, and other secret data. By having a unified system for storing and managing credentials, organizations can enforce consistent security policies, streamline access management, and improve auditing capabilities.

Centralization enhances security because it reduces the risk associated with storing credentials in multiple disparate locations, which can lead to mismanagement or accidental exposure. It also supports the implementation of policies such as access controls and auditing, making it easier for organizations to manage who has access to what credentials and to monitor their usage effectively.

While encryption is indeed an important feature of Vault, its primary role is not just about encrypting credentials but rather ensuring they are managed in a central repository. Vault does support automatic sharing of credentials under certain circumstances, but the essence of its functionality lies mainly in centralizing credential management.