Securing secrets in staging environments is critical for maintaining operational security, as these environments often become blind spots due to inadequate monitoring and access controls. Common issues include the accidental exposure of credentials, hard-coded secrets, and staging drift from production configurations, which can result in significant security vulnerabilities. To address these challenges, best practices involve using secrets management tools like Doppler, which integrate with CI/CD systems to securely inject secrets, automate their rotation, and ensure proper isolation between environments. Implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools can help prevent drift and duplication, while consistent monitoring and adherence to the principle of least privilege for credentials are essential. By following these strategies, organizations can mitigate the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access, maintaining a robust security posture across all development stages.