Managing secrets in Docker containers is crucial for maintaining security, particularly when dealing with sensitive information such as passwords, API keys, and certificates. Docker Secrets offers an effective solution by encrypting this data both in transit and at rest, while adhering to the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only authorized services can access the necessary secrets. By enabling Docker Swarm, a container orchestration tool, users can manage containers across multiple hosts and securely handle secrets within a distributed system. This approach contrasts with traditional practices of storing sensitive data in environment variables or embedding them into Docker images, which pose significant security risks. The use of Docker Secrets in conjunction with Docker Compose allows for the safe management of secrets in application workflows, reducing the risk of accidental exposure. Additionally, tools like Earthly can enhance Docker workflows by simplifying complex container builds and improving CI pipelines.