Confluent Platform 5.3 introduces Secret Protection, a feature designed to enhance security by encrypting sensitive data in configuration files, preventing unauthorized access to cleartext secrets such as passwords. This solution employs envelope encryption, using a master passphrase and cryptographic salt to generate a master encryption key, which encrypts a data encryption key, thereby securing the secrets. Even if a file is accessed, encrypted secrets remain unreadable without the master encryption key. This feature extends security capabilities for all components of the Confluent Platform, including brokers, Connect, and KSQL, allowing secure deployment in production environments. Users can generate, store, and deploy master encryption keys, update and rotate encryption keys, and integrate this security feature into their orchestration workflows. The platform’s CLI supports these operations, offering flexibility in managing encrypted secrets across various hosts while maintaining security best practices.