Kubernetes does not encrypt API resource data in etcd at rest by default. To protect Secret objects, configure the API server with an EncryptionConfiguration that puts an encryption provider first for secrets, then rewrite existing Secrets and verify both their stored representation and API readability. This protects Kubernetes API data in etcd; it does not encrypt filesystems mounted into containers.
What Kubernetes Secret encryption at rest covers
An EncryptionConfiguration tells the API server which providers to use when it stores selected API resources. With a suitable provider configured for secrets, new Secret writes are encrypted before storage in etcd. This is an additional security layer, not a replacement for encrypting etcd disks or the control-plane hosts.
The setting applies to Kubernetes API resource data. It does not encrypt a volume’s filesystem or data written by an application inside a mounted volume. For this procedure, confirm that your concern is Secret objects held in the Kubernetes API store.
Check the cluster and current encryption configuration
Before changing the API server, identify the Kubernetes release, control-plane deployment, etcd version, and API resources that need protection. The documented procedure assumes kube-apiserver static Pods and etcd v3.x. Kubernetes documentation says custom-resource encryption requires Kubernetes v1.26 or later, while wildcard resource matching requires v1.27 or later. Match the instructions to your cluster release and deployment rather than applying static-Pod steps blindly. See Kubernetes: Encrypting Confidential Data at Rest.
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- Check whether kube-apiserver is configured with
--encryption-provider-config. - Inspect the configuration entry for
secretsand note the provider order. - Check every control-plane API server: they need compatible configuration and access to the keys required to decrypt stored data.
The first provider listed is used to encrypt new writes. If identity is first, new Secret objects are stored as plaintext. Kubernetes documents that “The identity provider does not encrypt stored data and provides no additional confidentiality protection.” An identity provider later in the list can serve as a temporary plaintext-read fallback during migration, but any plaintext objects left behind will depend on it.
If you are investigating existing encrypted data or considering decryption, consult the release-matched guidance for decrypting confidential data already encrypted at rest before changing providers or removing keys.
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Choose where encryption keys live
The key arrangement defines which compromises this control can mitigate. A local key in the API server’s configuration can protect against someone who obtains etcd data alone. It does not protect against an attacker who can read that configuration on a compromised control-plane host. Kubernetes cautions that “Storing the raw encryption key in the EncryptionConfig only moderately improves your security posture, compared to no encryption.”
| Approach | Key custody and protection boundary | Operational considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Local key in EncryptionConfiguration | The key is on control-plane hosts in the API server configuration. It can protect an etcd-only compromise, but not an attacker able to read the file on a control-plane host. | Generate a strong random key, restrict file access to the API-server process owner, and securely distribute the configuration to all control-plane hosts. Protect and back up keys securely. |
| External KMS envelope encryption | Secret data is encrypted using a data-encryption key; a KMS key-encryption key protects that data key and can remain outside the cluster. | Protect API-server-to-KMS communication in transit, such as with TLS, and tightly control credentials and KMS access. The API server’s ability to read encrypted resources depends on the external service being reachable and authorized. |
KMS is not a way to eliminate key-management work: it shifts some custody and availability responsibilities to the service and its access controls. Kubernetes recommends KMS v2 where feasible. Its documentation says KMS v2 has significantly better performance characteristics than KMS v1; that is a qualitative comparison, not a performance guarantee for a particular cluster.
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Version compatibility matters: Kubernetes documentation says KMS v1 has been deprecated since v1.28 and is disabled by default from v1.29; KMS v2 became stable in v1.29. Verify exact prerequisites and behavior for your cluster release in Using a KMS provider for data encryption. The choice between local keys and KMS depends on your threat model, release, operations, and ability to maintain the KMS dependency.
Configure the API server to encrypt new Secrets
Create an EncryptionConfiguration for the secrets resource using a supported encryption provider. Put that provider first in the list. Do not put identity first if new Secret writes must be encrypted. Use the version-matched Kubernetes instructions to supply the configuration file to kube-apiserver, including on every control-plane host. Do not copy sample encryption keys from documentation into production.
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Provider-specific configuration differs, so use the complete examples and API-server setup in the Kubernetes encryption-at-rest instructions or the KMS provider instructions. Ensure each API server can access the configured key or KMS before directing traffic to it; otherwise reads or writes may fail depending on the provider and stored data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify encryption, then migrate existing Secrets
Enabling encryption changes how the API server writes data; it does not rewrite Secrets already stored in etcd. Use a newly created test Secret to validate the configuration first.
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- Create a test Secret through the Kubernetes API.
- Inspect its etcd representation using the documented procedure. Confirm the value has the encryption prefix associated with the configured provider and key.
- Use
kubectl get secretto confirm the API can still return that Secret. A ciphertext prefix without a successful API read is not a complete verification. - Once new writes are verified, rewrite existing Secrets so their stored forms are encrypted. Kubernetes documents a get-and-replace pipeline across namespaces; for large clusters, process namespaces or scripted batches and retry write conflicts as directed in the official instructions.
- Check representative objects in etcd and through the API after migration. Do not remove a plaintext fallback until all relevant objects have been rewritten and validated.
Use the commands and access method documented for your etcd and cluster setup in Kubernetes’ encryption procedure; access to etcd is deployment-specific. Avoid exposing Secret values or encryption keys in shell history, logs, or shared terminals while carrying out the migration.
Rotate keys without losing access to stored objects
Rotation is a staged migration, not simply replacing a key in the configuration. The API server must retain decryption access to every key that may protect an object already in etcd. Keep the old key available until the rewrite is complete and verified.
- Add the new key while retaining the old key in the configuration, so API servers can decrypt data protected by either key.
- Roll out the updated configuration consistently to all API servers and verify that they can still read existing Secrets.
- Make the new key’s provider entry first for encryption of new writes.
- Rewrite all relevant existing Secrets, then verify their etcd representations and confirm the API can return them.
- Securely back up the new key and validate the backup and access controls.
- Only after confirming that no stored objects depend on the old key, remove it from the decryption configuration.
If an API server lacks a key needed for a stored object, reads can fail. Losing every copy of a required key can make affected resources inaccessible and may force their deletion. Kubernetes discusses storage-version implications in its Storage Versions documentation; retain keys and coordinate configuration changes across API servers accordingly.
Before removing plaintext fallback or old keys
- Confirm the encryption provider, not
identity, is first for new Secret writes. - Confirm every control-plane API server has the current configuration and can decrypt the data it may encounter.
- Confirm existing Secrets were rewritten and their encrypted etcd representation was checked.
- Confirm the API can still return the migrated Secrets.
- Confirm required keys are securely backed up and that no remaining object depends on a key you plan to remove.
Removing identity prevents the API server from reading resources that remain in plaintext. Removing an old encryption key prevents it from decrypting objects still protected by that key. Treat both changes as the final step after coverage has been established, not as cleanup to perform immediately after enabling encryption.
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At-rest encryption is one part of cluster protection. For the broader control set, see Kubernetes’ guidance on Securing a Cluster.
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