Introduction to AWS Secret Manager and Serverless Framework

As serverless architecture gains popularity, managing secrets like API keys, database passwords, and other sensitive information becomes crucial. AWS Secret Manager offers a secure and convenient way to store and manage secrets, while the Serverless Framework simplifies deploying serverless applications. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to integrate AWS Secret Manager with the Serverless Framework to enhance the security and efficiency of your serverless applications.

Prerequisites for Integration

Before diving into the integration process, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

  1. AWS Account: You need an active AWS account.
  2. AWS CLI: Install and configure the AWS Command Line Interface.
  3. Node.js: Install Node.js, which includes npm (Node Package Manager).
  4. Serverless Framework: Install the Serverless Framework globally using npm.

npm install -g serverless

Setting Up AWS Secret Manager

To set up AWS Secret Manager:

  1. Log in to the AWS Management Console.
  2. Navigate to AWS Secret Manager.
  3. Create a new secret:
    • Choose the type of secret (e.g., “Other type of secret”).
    • Enter key-value pairs for the secrets you want to store.
    • Provide a name for the secret and save it.

Configuring Serverless Framework

Create a new Serverless Framework project:

serverless create –template aws-nodejs –path my-serverless-app

cd my-serverless-app

npm init -y

npm install serverless-dotenv-plugin

Configure the serverless.yml file to include the plugin:

plugins:

  – serverless-dotenv-plugin

Storing Secrets in AWS Secret Manager

Store secrets in AWS Secret Manager through the AWS Management Console or using the AWS CLI:

aws secretsmanager create-secret –name MySecret –secret-string ‘{“username”:”admin”,”password”:”password”}’

Accessing Secrets in Serverless Functions

To access secrets in your serverless functions, use the AWS SDK. Install the AWS SDK in your project:

npm install aws-sdk

Here’s an example of how to retrieve a secret in a serverless function:

const AWS = require(‘aws-sdk’);

const secretsManager = new AWS.SecretsManager();

module.exports.handler = async (event) => {

  const secretName = ‘MySecret’;

  let secret;

  try {

    const data = await secretsManager.getSecretValue({ SecretId: secretName }).promise();

    if (‘SecretString’ in data) {

      secret = data.SecretString;

    } else {

      const buff = Buffer.from(data.SecretBinary, ‘base64’);

      secret = buff.toString(‘ascii’);

    }

  } catch (err) {

    console.error(err);

    throw err;

  }

  return {

    statusCode: 200,

    body: JSON.stringify({ secret }),

  };

};

Deploying the Serverless Application

Deploy your serverless application using the Serverless Framework:

serverless deploy

 

Testing and Validating Secret Integration

After deploying your application, test the integration by invoking your function:

serverless invoke -f functionName

Check the logs to ensure the secrets are being accessed correctly:

serverless logs -f functionName

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  1. Permission Issues: Ensure your Lambda function has the necessary IAM permissions to access AWS Secret Manager.
  2. Secret Not Found: Verify the hidden name and ARN are correct.
  3. SDK Errors: Ensure the AWS SDK version is compatible with your Node.js runtime.

Best Practices for Managing Secrets in Serverless Applications

  1. Least Privilege: Grant the minimum permissions required to access secrets.
  2. Environment Separation: Use different secrets for development, staging, and production environments.
  3. Rotate Secrets: Regularly rotate your secrets to enhance security.
  4. Monitor Access: Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor access to your secrets.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Integrating AWS Secret Manager with the Serverless Framework provides a robust solution for managing secrets in serverless applications. Following this guide, you can securely store, access, and manage your secrets, ensuring your application remains secure and efficient.

The following steps include exploring advanced features of AWS Secret Manager, automating secret rotation, and implementing additional security measures to protect your serverless applications.

References

Securely retrieving secrets with AWS Lambda

Keeping the Security and Scalability of Serverless Apps Problem-Free with AWS Secrets Manager