Compare CyberArk Conjur vs. Keywhiz

An open-source interface that ensures secure authentication, management, and auditing of non-human access across various tools, applications, containers, and cloud environments is essential for robust secrets management. These secrets are vital for accessing applications, critical infrastructure, and other sensitive information. Conjur enhances this security by implementing precise Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to manage secrets tightly. When an application seeks access to a resource, Conjur first authenticates the application, then conducts an authorization assessment based on the established security policy, and subsequently delivers the necessary secret securely. The framework of Conjur is built on the principle of security policy as code, where security directives are documented in .yml files, integrated into source control, and uploaded to the Conjur server. This approach treats security policy with the same importance as other source control elements, fostering increased transparency and collaboration regarding the organization's security standards. Additionally, the ability to version control security policies allows for easier updates and reviews, ultimately enhancing the security posture of the entire organization.

Keywhiz serves as a robust solution for the management and distribution of sensitive information, making it particularly compatible with service-oriented architectures (SOA). This presentation provides a concise overview of its functionalities. Traditional methods often involve placing secrets within configuration files adjacent to the source code, or transferring files to servers through out-of-band methods; both approaches pose significant risks of exposure and complicate tracking efforts. In contrast, Keywhiz enhances the security and ease of secret management by allowing secrets to be centrally stored in a clustered environment, with all data encrypted in a database. Clients securely access their authorized secrets using mutually authenticated TLS (mTLS), ensuring a high level of security during transmission. Administrators can manage Keywhiz through a command-line interface (CLI), facilitating user-friendly operations. To support various workflows, Keywhiz offers automation APIs that utilize mTLS for secure communication. Every organization invariably has services or systems that necessitate the safeguarding of secrets, including items such as TLS certificates, GPG keys, API tokens, and database credentials. While Keywhiz is dependable and actively used in production environments, it is worth noting that occasional updates may disrupt backward compatibility of the API. As such, organizations should remain vigilant about testing changes before deployment.