Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides several tools designed for managing and controlling application configurations and secrets, among them are AWS AppConfig and Secrets Manager. These services have unique features which developers can advantageously leverage, depending on the specific requirements. These features are especially beneficial for individuals studying for the AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) exam.
AWS AppConfig
AWS AppConfig is a service that enables developers to create, manage, and quickly deploy application configurations. AppConfig supports controlled deployments to applications of any size and includes validation checks to prevent errors. Here’s an example of how you can access application configurations from AWS AppConfig:
Import the appconfig service client from botocore:
from botocore.session import Session
session = Session()
client = session.create_client('appconfig', region_name='us-west-2')
Make a request to get the configuration profile using the get_configuration method:
response = client.get_configuration(
Application="YOUR_APP_NAME",
Environment="ENV_NAME",
Configuration="YOUR_CONFIGURATION_PROFILE_NAME",
ClientId="YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
ClientConfigurationVersion="YOUR_CLIENT_CONFIGURATION_VERSION",
)
print(response['Content'])
This script returns the contents of the specified configuration from AWS AppConfig.
AWS Secrets Manager
AWS Secrets Manager is a secrets management service that helps you protect access to your applications, services, and IT resources. This service enables you to easily rotate, manage, and retrieve database credentials, API keys, and other secrets throughout their lifecycle. You can access secrets with a call to Secrets Manager APIs and eliminate the upfront investment in heavy lifting associated with operational management.
Here’s an example of how you can retrieve secrets from AWS Secrets Manager:
First, import the AWS SDK (Boto3):
import boto3
Initialize the Secrets Manager client:
session = boto3.Session(region_name='us-west-2')
client = session.client('secretsmanager')
To access a secret, call the get_secret_value method:
response = client.get_secret_value(
SecretId='MyTestDatabaseSecret'
)
You can find the secret in response['SecretString'].
Comparison
While both of these services deliver capabilities related to managing sensitive configuration data, they provide distinctly different functionality.
| AWS AppConfig | AWS Secrets Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Manages and deploys application configurations | Manages and rotates secrets |
| Key Features | Controlled deployments, validation checks | Automatic secret rotation, security controls |
| Use Case | Changing application settings, feature flags, and other configurations | Managing API keys, database credentials, and other secrets |
In general, AWS AppConfig is designed to make it easier and safer to implement changes or feature releases across distributed applications. AWS Secrets Manager, on the flip side, focuses on managing and protecting your secrets, allowing you to replace hardcoded secrets in your code with a call to Secrets Manager. AWS Secrets Manager can safely rotate, retrieve, and manage secrets such as database credentials and API keys.
Both AWS AppConfig and Secrets Manager play crucial roles in managing application configurations and handling secrets, thereby enhancing the overall security of your applications running on AWS. Knowledge and adept use of these tools will surely benefit candidates studying for the AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02) exam.
Practice Test
True/False: AWS AppConfig is used to access application configurations and feature settings in your environment.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: AWS AppConfig is designed for use with applications hosted on EC2 instances, containers, AWS Lambda, mobile apps, IoT devices, and on-premise servers.
You can retrieve secrets or passwords from AWS Secrets Manager using a CLI. Is this statement true or false?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: AWS allows developers to retrieve secrets or passwords stored in the Secrets Manager using the AWS command-line interface.
What systems can integrate with AWS Secrets Manager for secret rotation?
- a) Amazon RDS
- b) Amazon DocumentDB
- c) Amazon Redshift
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: AWS Secrets Manager supports secret rotation for databases including Amazon RDS, Amazon DocumentDB, and Amazon Redshift.
True/False: AWS AppConfig does not support validation during deployment.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: AWS AppConfig supports validation to check for configuration correctness during deployment.
Which AWS service can you use to manage sensitive information like API keys, database passwords, etc.?
- a) AWS AppConfig
- b) AWS Secrets Manager
- c) CloudWatch
- d) EC2
Answer: b) AWS Secrets Manager
Explanation: AWS Secrets Manager is a secrets management service that helps secure access to applications, services, and IT resources, and is designed to manage sensitive information.
True/False: AWS AppConfig supports JSON and YAML configuration data formats.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: AWS AppConfig supports configuration data in JSON and YAML format which makes it versatile for many applications.
AWS AppConfig can deploy configuration changes __________.
- a) To a single environment
- b) To selected targets
- c) Across your whole application
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: AWS AppConfig allows you to deploy configuration changes to a single environment, selected targets, or across all of your application.
True/False: AWS Secrets Manager is incapable of automatic secret rotation.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: AWS Secrets Manager is capable of automatic secret rotation, which helps in enhancing security.
AWS AppConfig uses what type of delivery mechanism to ensure seamless configuration deployment?
- a) Push delivery
- b) Pull delivery
- c) Both A and B
- d) None of the above
Answer: b) Pull delivery
Explanation: Unlike push-mechanisms, a pull delivery mechanism used in AWS AppConfig prevents overwhelming the system with too many changes at once.
True/False: It is impossible to monitor AWS AppConfig events.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: AWS AppConfig changes and deployments can be monitored via Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon SNS, and AWS CloudTrail.
What is NOT a good use case of AWS Secrets Manager?
- a) Managing API keys
- b) Deploying configuration updates
- c) Storing database credentials
- d) Rotating credentials
Answer: b) Deploying configuration updates
Explanation: While AWS Secrets Manager is perfect for managing API keys and storing database credentials, it is not used for deploying configuration updates. That’s what AWS AppConfig is for.
True/False: AWS AppConfig allows you to use configuration data from external sources.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: AWS AppConfig allows you to retrieve configuration data from AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Parameter Store and AWS Secrets Manager, essentially using configuration data from external sources.
You can implement fine-grained access control with AWS AppConfig. True or False?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: With AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) you can implement fine-grained access control to parts of your configuration.
AWS AppConfig is a _______ service.
- a) Serverless
- b) Server-based
- c) Both a and b
- d) None of the above
Answer: a) Serverless
Explanation: AWS AppConfig is a serverless, managed service, so you can focus on setting up your application configurations without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.
True/False: AWS Secrets Manager and AppConfig are designed to work together to provide secure and dynamic application configuration.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: While Secrets Manager securely manages sensitive information, AppConfig allows the application configuration to adapt based on this secure information, effectively working together.
Interview Questions
What is AWS AppConfig primarily used for?
AWS AppConfig is primarily used to manage, deploy, and monitor applications configurations. This helps in creating safer deployments by enabling developers to define and validate configuration data.
Where does AWS AppConfig store the configuration data?
AWS AppConfig stores configuration data in Amazon S3 buckets and deploys it through the runtime application.
What services can be integrated with AWS AppConfig?
AWS AppConfig can be integrated with Amazon CloudWatch, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), AWS CloudTrail, AWS Systems Manager, among others.
What is the purpose of AWS Secrets Manager?
AWS Secrets Manager helps protect access to applications, services, and IT resources. It enables securely storing, auditing, and rotating credentials without upfront investment and on-going maintenance.
How does AWS Secrets Manager enhance security?
By removing hardcoded secrets in the application code, including passwords, it reduces potential exposure of sensitive information. This enables AWS to automatically rotate secrets without the need for code deployments.
Can Secrets Manager and AppConfig be used together?
Yes, both can be used together to access applications configurations securely. AWS AppConfig can retrieve secrets stored in AWS Secrets Manager.
What is a ‘hosted configuration version’ in AWS AppConfig?
A hosted configuration version represents a specific set of configuration data that is prepared for deployment to an application.
What features does AWS Secrets Manager provide for secret rotation?
AWS Secrets Manager provides built-in support for rotating credentials for Amazon RDS, Amazon DocumentDB, and Amazon Redshift. Also, Secrets Manager support rotation function for other secrets including those of on-premises resources.
How are the charges determined for using AWS AppConfig?
AWS AppConfig charges are determined by the number of hosted configuration versions, the number of deployments, and the number of AWS AppConfig targets.
Can AWS AppConfig be used for applications that are not hosted on AWS?
Yes, AWS AppConfig can be used for applications hosted on-premises or elsewhere outside of AWS.
How do you limit access to a secret in AWS Secrets Manager?
You can use an IAM policy to limit access to a secret in AWS Secrets Manager. IAM policies can specify who has access to what.
Can various versions of configuration be maintained within AWS AppConfig?
Yes, AppConfig allows users to manage and keep track of different versions of a configuration profile.
What encryption does AWS Secrets Manager use to protect secrets?
AWS Secrets Manager uses AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to encrypt secrets at rest.
What protocols should applications support in order to use AWS AppConfig for configuration deployment?
The application should have support for either the AWS SDKs or the AWS Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent).
Can secrets stored in AWS Secrets Manager be recovered if deleted?
No, once a secret is deleted in AWS Secrets Manager, it cannot be recovered. It’s a best practice to backup important secrets.
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