AWS Parameter Store vs AWS Secrets Manager Comparison and When to Use Each?
Shahin Hemmati2 min read
Here are two tables comparing AWS Parameter Store and AWS Secrets Manager, and when to use each.
Comparison Table: AWS Parameter Store vs. AWS Secrets Manager
| Feature | AWS Parameter Store | AWS Secrets Manager |
| Primary Use Case | Storing configuration data, non-sensitive parameters | Managing secrets such as database credentials, API keys |
| Secret Rotation | Not supported directly | Built-in support for automatic rotation of secrets |
| Encryption | Uses AWS KMS (optional) | Uses AWS KMS for encryption |
| Cost | Free for basic usage; charged for advanced tier | Paid service; charges for storage and API calls |
| Integration | Works with AWS Systems Manager, EC2, Lambda | Integrates with databases, services requiring secret rotation |
| Versioning | Supports versioning | Supports versioning |
| Hierarchy Support | Hierarchical organization with paths | No hierarchical structure |
| Audit and Monitoring | AWS CloudTrail support | More advanced audit capabilities with CloudTrail |
| SDK/API Support | Fully supported via AWS SDKs and CLI | Fully supported via AWS SDKs and CLI |
| Ease of Use | Simple for configuration storage | Focused on secret management, with more features for sensitive data |
| Rotation Triggers | Requires manual implementation | Automatically triggers Lambda functions for rotation |
| Resource Policies | Limited to IAM policies | Fine-grained access control and resource policies |
When to Use:
| Use Case | AWS Parameter Store | AWS Secrets Manager |
| Storing app configurations | ✅ Ideal for configurations like environment variables | ❌ Not the intended use case |
| Managing secrets like passwords and API keys | ❌ Not designed for sensitive secret management | ✅ Perfect for managing sensitive secrets |
| Automatic secret rotation | ❌ Requires custom implementation | ✅ Built-in support |
| Cost-sensitive projects | ✅ Free for basic usage | ❌ Can be costly for extensive use |
| Hierarchical data storage | ✅ Supports hierarchy with path structures | ❌ Does not support hierarchy |
| Frequent access to secrets | ✅ Suitable for frequently accessed non-sensitive parameters | ✅ Suitable for sensitive data with access tracking |
| Compliance requirements (e.g., PCI-DSS) | ❌ May not meet compliance needs without extra effort | ✅ Tailored for compliance scenarios |
| Integration with existing AWS workflows | ✅ Seamlessly integrates into most AWS services | ✅ Specialized for secret integration |
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Written by
Shahin Hemmati
Shahin Hemmati
I'm a curious Geek with an insatiable thirst to learn new technologies and enjoy the process every day. I aim to deliver high-quality services with the highest standards and cutting-edge DevOps technologies to make people's lives easier.