Secret rotation is a critical security practice that involves regularly updating sensitive credentials like API keys, passwords, and tokens to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. Many teams face security risks and operational challenges due to outdated manual methods of managing secrets, such as hardcoding credentials and inconsistent API key management. Automated solutions, such as centralized secrets management systems, improve security by ensuring timely updates, secure deprecation of old credentials, and reducing human error. Secret rotation is essential for meeting compliance requirements from standards like SOC 2 and HIPAA, as it limits the impact of leaked credentials and mitigates insider threats. The document highlights the messy reality of secrets sprawl, where credentials are scattered across various locations, leading to security vulnerabilities and operational chaos. A robust secret rotation strategy includes identifying all secrets, determining rotation frequency, using centralized storage, and ensuring secrets are propagated across environments, often automated with platforms like Doppler. This approach not only secures sensitive data but also maintains operational efficiency, making secret rotation a necessary practice for modern development and security teams.