Protecting Secrets in Kubernetes with Google Secret Manager and the Secrets Store CSI Driver

Embarking on the journey to cloud-native applications highlights the critical need to securely manage sensitive information. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) stands out as a trusted ally that provides robust solutions for effective secrets management. In a previous article (https://medium.com/@cdelmonte/argo-events-how-to-synchronize-gcp-secret-manager-and-kubernetes-secrets-d9807dbf8d30), I explored the fusion of GCP Secret Manager with Kubernetes, highlighting the orchestration capabilities of Argo Events. While the focus of that exploration was on Argo Events, this article takes a different path to present an alternative solution — one that includes the Secrets Store CSI driver.

Illustration generated with mid journey ai.

Container Storage Interface (CSI)

A Container Storage Interface (CSI) is a standard for exposing storage systems to containerized workloads in container orchestration platforms, such as Kubernetes. It enables seamless integration between container orchestrators and various storage vendors, primarily enabling dynamic provisioning and management of persistent storage volumes.

Key features and aspects of a CSI driver include:

• Standardized interface: CSI…