The Secret Spaghetti Problem
We’ve all been there. You’re setting up a new AI tool, and suddenly you’re hunting through Slack messages or config files for an OpenAI API key or an Azure connection secret. Organizations running AI at scale have already solved the “where do these go?” question by using security vaults like AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault, or HashiCorp Vault.
The problem isn’t the vault—it’s that most tools don’t use the vault. They ask you to copy-paste your most sensitive credentials directly into their interface.
Bring your secrets from vaults into Agent Fabric
Agent Fabric integration with External Vaults changes the approach. Instead of asking you to hand over your secrets, it connects directly to your existing vaults. This eliminates unnecessary “manual entry” that can lead to credential leaks.. It enables compliance with organizational policies such as secret rotation, and enhances your security posture.
How the Connection Works
The process is designed to be seamless for developers and secure for admins:
- The Introduction: On the Providers page, you add a “Secrets / Vault” scanner.
- The Handshake: You select your vault (AWS, Azure, or HashiCorp) and define which environments your MuleSoft org is allowed to see.
- The Visibility: Your secrets appear with real-time usage tracking. You can see exactly which proxies are using which keys, ending the “what happens if I rotate this?” guesswork.
From Vault to Proxy Without the Risk
When you build a LLM proxy route, you’re given a choice: enter a key manually or pull it “from vault”. Choosing the vault means the proxy never actually holds a copy of the key—it holds a pointer.
| Feature | Manual Entry | Vault Integration |
| Credential Storage | Stored in proxy config | Remains in your secure vault |
| Rotation Impact | Requires manual update in tool | Updates automatically via pointer |
| Visibility | Minimal usage tracking | Live “Used by” tracking |
| Security Risk | High (keys in multiple places) | Low (single source of truth) |
Peace of Mind Through Automation
Because Agent Fabric’s MuleSoft Omni Gateway uses references rather than copies, your security policy remains in your hands. You can rotate secrets in AWS or HashiCorp on your own schedule. The LLM Proxy keeps working because it was always pointing at the source of truth, not a stale copy.
Whether you’re running production workloads on AWS or on-prem tasks via HashiCorp, the experience is identical. Your AI infrastructure uses the same security tools your organization already does.
Ready to Secure Your AI Workflow?
Getting started takes just a few clicks:
- Connect: Add your vault scanner via the Providers page.
- Deploy: Update your proxy routes to use vault references instead of raw keys.
For more details on setting up external vaults, reach out to Sai Thalupuru or check the official documentation.
