How to Manage CMS API Keys Securely
IntermediateQuick Answer
TL;DR
Managing content management system (CMS) API keys securely means never exposing write tokens in client-side code, using read-only tokens for public-facing applications, storing secrets in environment variables rather than source code, rotating tokens regularly, and scoping permissions to the minimum required. Use your hosting platform's secret management for production, .env files for local development, and separate tokens for different environments and access levels.
Key Takeaways
- Never expose write tokens in client-side (browser) code
- Use read-only tokens for public-facing applications and write tokens only on the server
- Store API keys in environment variables, never commit them to Git
- Create separate tokens for development, staging, and production environments
- Rotate tokens regularly and revoke compromised tokens immediately