Ansible Vault is a feature that allows you to keep sensitive data such as passwords or keys in encrypted files, rather than as plaintext in playbooks or roles. This is crucial for maintaining security and confidentiality in your automation scripts.

1. Encryption and Decryption: Ansible Vault can encrypt and decrypt files using a password or a key file.
2. Vault IDs: Allows you to manage multiple vault passwords.
3. Vault Files: Files that are encrypted using Ansible Vault.

• Security: Protect sensitive information from being exposed.
• Compliance: Meet security compliance requirements by encrypting sensitive data.
• Ease of Use: Integrates seamlessly with Ansible playbooks and roles.

To encrypt a file using Ansible Vault, use the following command:

Example:

To decrypt a file, use:

Example:

To edit an encrypted file, use:

Example:

To view the contents of an encrypted file without editing, use:

Example:

To change the password of an encrypted file, use:

Example:

You can use encrypted files in your playbooks by specifying the vault password file or prompting for the password.

To run the playbook with a vault password file:

To run the playbook and be prompted for the vault password:

1. Create a file named secrets.yml with the following content:

   secret_message: "This is a secret message"
   

2. Encrypt the file using Ansible Vault:

   ansible-vault encrypt secrets.yml
   

3. Create a playbook named vault_playbook.yml that uses the encrypted file:

   ---
   - name: Playbook using Vault
     hosts: localhost
     vars_files:
       - secrets.yml
     tasks:
       - name: Print the secret message
         debug:
           msg: "{{ secret_message }}"
   

4. Run the playbook and provide the vault password when prompted:

   ansible-playbook vault_playbook.yml --ask-vault-pass
   

1. Encrypting the file:

   ansible-vault encrypt secrets.yml
   

2. Playbook content (vault_playbook.yml):

   ---
   - name: Playbook using Vault
     hosts: localhost
     vars_files:
       - secrets.yml
     tasks:
       - name: Print the secret message
         debug:
           msg: "{{ secret_message }}"
   

3. Running the playbook:

   ansible-playbook vault_playbook.yml --ask-vault-pass
   

• Forgetting to encrypt files: Always ensure sensitive files are encrypted before committing them to version control.
• Misplacing the vault password: Store the vault password securely and avoid hardcoding it in scripts.
• Using multiple vault passwords: Use Vault IDs to manage multiple vault passwords effectively.

Ansible Vault is a powerful tool for securing sensitive data in your automation scripts. By understanding how to encrypt, decrypt, and use vault files in playbooks, you can enhance the security of your Ansible projects. Practice encrypting and using vault files to become proficient in managing sensitive information securely.