Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Docker Secrets VS EnvKey

Compare Docker Secrets VS EnvKey and see what are their differences

Docker Secrets logo Docker Secrets

About secrets In terms of Docker Swarm services, a secret is a blob of data, such as a password, SSH private key, SSL certificate, or another piece of data that...

EnvKey logo EnvKey

Protect API keys and credentials. Keep configuration in sync everywhere.
  • Docker Secrets Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-18
  • EnvKey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-19

Docker Secrets features and specs

  • Secure Storage
    Docker Secrets provide a secure way to store sensitive data, such as passwords and API keys, as they are encrypted at rest and in transit, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Isolation
    Secrets are only accessible within the specific service containers that need them, offering a level of isolation that helps prevent leakage to other parts of the system.
  • Versioning and Rollback
    Docker allows for the management of secrets within a swarm, making it easier to update them and roll back if necessary without affecting non-updated applications.
  • Operational Simplicity
    Integrating secrets into Docker orchestration workflows simplifies operations, as the secrets can be managed consistently alongside other Docker configurations.

Possible disadvantages of Docker Secrets

  • Swarm Dependency
    Docker Secrets require Docker Swarm for management, which may not be suitable for all deployment scenarios, limiting their utility in non-swarm environments.
  • Limited Scope
    Secrets are specifically designed for use with services rather than standalone containers, which might limit their usage in certain Docker setups.
  • Size Constraints
    Individual secrets have a maximum size limit of 500 KB, which could pose challenges when dealing with larger sets of sensitive data.
  • Complex Access Controls
    Managing permissions and access controls for secrets can be complex and may require careful setup to ensure proper access levels are maintained.

EnvKey features and specs

  • Centralized Management
    EnvKey provides a single platform to manage all environment variables, reducing the risk of inconsistent configurations across different environments and projects.
  • Security
    It encrypts environment variables, ensuring sensitive data like API keys and passwords are kept safe from unauthorized access.
  • Real-Time Updates
    Changes to environment variables propagate instantly to all configured services, eliminating the need for manual updates across different systems.
  • Audit and Logging
    EnvKey provides comprehensive logging of changes for audit purposes, helping teams track modifications and access more effectively.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with straightforward integration into existing development workflows.

Possible disadvantages of EnvKey

  • Cost
    Depending on the size and needs of your organization, the cost of using EnvKey might be a consideration, especially for startups or small teams.
  • Learning Curve
    Teams may face a learning curve while integrating EnvKey into their workflows, particularly for members unfamiliar with managing environment variables.
  • Dependency
    Relying on an external tool for managing critical configuration data can be seen as a dependency that might affect operations if there are service outages.
  • Complexity in Setup
    Initial setup and integration with existing systems might be complex for projects with intricate requirements or extensive existing configurations.

Docker Secrets videos

Docker Swarm Secrets | Docker Secrets Management To Protect Sensitive Data | Thetips4you

EnvKey videos

No EnvKey videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Docker Secrets and EnvKey)
Password Management
48 48%
52% 52
Security & Privacy
30 30%
70% 70
Secrets Management
25 25%
75% 75
Web Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Docker Secrets and EnvKey. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker Secrets should be more popular than EnvKey. It has been mentiond 23 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Docker Secrets mentions (23)

  • Docker Secrets Management: Essential Practices for Container Security
    For more information, refer to the official Docker documentation on secrets. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Lockdown Your Containers: 11 Docker Security Tips
    Storing sensitive information like passwords, API keys, and other secrets directly in your Dockerfile or Docker Compose file is a security risk. Instead, use Docker secrets for managing this sensitive data. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Does Your Startup Need Complex Cloud Infrastructure?
    Yes, swarm is not deprecated. I haven't used it myself yet, but I read elsewhere that swarm offers an easy way to manage secrets with containers. Some people run their 1 container in a swarm cluster with 1 node just for this feature. I see it's even officially suggested as a Note in the doc: > Docker secrets are only available to swarm services, not to standalone containers. To use this feature, *consider adapting... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • 5 Often-Ignored Docker Security Risks
    The solution is to keep your images clean of any sensitive data. Instead, use environment variables, Docker secrets, or dedicated secrets management tools to handle sensitive information. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Docker Secrets Best Practices: Protecting Sensitive Information in Containers
    Docker has revolutionized the way we build, ship, and run applications. However, when it comes to handling sensitive information like passwords, API keys, and certificates, proper security measures are crucial. Docker secrets provide a secure and convenient way to manage sensitive data within containers. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
View more

EnvKey mentions (8)

  • 1 in 10 developers leaked an API-key in 2022
    You can check out EnvKey[1] as another option (I’m the founder). We have similarly simple UX but are more robust on security. Browser-based end-to-end encryption is a bit of a fig leaf—it doesn’t protect against insider threats. 1 - https://envkey.com. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Launch HN: Infisical (YC W23) – Open-source secrets manager for developers
    Hey, congratulations on the launch. How does this compare to EnvKey[1]? [1]: https://envkey.com. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Launch HN: Idemeum (YC S21) – Passwordless access to apps and infrastructure
    In most cases, attempting to roll your own secrets management (or just ignoring secrets management entirely) will end up spraying access across all kinds of third party services (usually in plain text), as engineers resort to sharing secrets via email, chat, file sharing, and other tools to get their work done. The cost/benefit/risk calculation to doing this yourself isn't good. Using open... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Toyota Accidently Exposed a Secret Key Publicly on GitHub for Five Years
    If anyone out there is using environment variables currently, is interested a quick path to plugging the leaks in their secrets management, check out EnvKey[1] (disclaimer: I'm the founder). Because EnvKey integrates tightly with environment variables, no app code changes are needed to switch, so it only takes a minute or two to import/integrate a typical app. EnvKey is designed to help avoid incidents exactly... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • SHGA Shanghai Gov National Police Database Stolen
    If anyone’s looking for something more secure than vanilla env vars but simpler than Vault, you could check out EnvKey[1]. Disclaimer: I’m the founder. It’s end-to-end encrypted, cloud or self-hosted, and very quick to integrate. 1 - https://envkey.com. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Docker Secrets and EnvKey, you can also consider the following products

VAULT - A password manager for freelancers, developers, agencies, IT departments and teams. VAULT safely stores account information and makes it easy to share between co-workers, other team members and clients.

Doppler - Doppler is the multi-cloud SecretOps Platform developers and security teams trust to provide secrets management at enterprise scale.

AWS CloudHSM - Data Security

Infisical - Infisical is an open source, end-to-end encrypted platform that lets you securely sync secrets and configs across your engineering team and infrastructure

Vault by HashiCorp - Tool for managing secrets

Gemalto SafeNet KeySecure - Gemalto SafeNet KeySecure is a centralized cryptographic key management platform.