SOPS (Secrets OPerationS)
Secrets management wrapper for encrypting files.
Overview
SOPS is an open-source command-line tool developed by Mozilla that makes it easy to encrypt and decrypt files containing secrets. It integrates with cloud KMS services (AWS KMS, GCP KMS, Azure Key Vault) and PGP to manage the encryption keys, allowing you to safely commit encrypted secret files to Git.
✨ Key Features
- Encrypts structured data files (YAML, JSON, .env, INI)
- Integrates with AWS KMS, GCP KMS, Azure Key Vault, and PGP for key management
- Allows for secure storage of secrets in Git repositories
- Key groups for granular access control
- Command-line interface for encryption/decryption
- Open source (Mozilla Public License 2.0)
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Integration with major cloud KMS providers for key management
- Encrypts values within a file, not the whole file, making diffs readable
- Strong support for GitOps workflows
- Easy to use for developers already familiar with Git
Unique Value: Enables teams to safely store secrets within their Git repositories by encrypting them with trusted, managed keys from cloud providers, perfectly fitting into modern GitOps workflows.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- GitOps-friendly secrets management for Kubernetes
- Encrypting Terraform variable files (.tfvars) containing sensitive data
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Organizations needing a centralized secret server with a UI and audit logs
- Use cases requiring dynamic secret generation or secret rotation
🏆 Alternatives
Unlike a central server like Vault, SOPS is decentralized and file-based, which is simpler for Git-centric workflows. Compared to git-crypt, it offers more powerful key management through cloud KMS integrations.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Completely free and open source.
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