GCP API Keys & Secrets Detection

Learn how to detect API keys, secrets, and tokens in GCP environments. Follow step-by-step guidance for PCI-DSS compliance.

insecure APIs

PCI-DSS

gcp

Why It Matters

The core goal is to identify every location where API keys, secrets, and tokens are stored within your GCP environment, so you can remediate unintended exposures before they become breaches. Scanning for credentials in GCP is a priority for organizations subject to PCI-DSS, as it helps you prove you've discovered and accounted for all sensitive authentication assets—mitigating the risk of insecure APIs and unauthorized access.

Primary Risk: Insecure APIs and unauthorized access via exposed credentials

Relevant Regulation: PCI-DSS Data Security Standard

A thorough scan delivers immediate visibility, laying the foundation for automated policy enforcement and ongoing compliance.

Prerequisites

Permissions & Roles

  • GCP project owner or security admin
  • Secret Manager Admin, Storage Admin privileges
  • Ability to install gcloud CLI or Terraform

External Tools

  • Google Cloud CLI
  • Cyera DSPM account
  • Service account credentials

Prior Setup

  • GCP project provisioned
  • Security Command Center enabled
  • CLI authenticated
  • IAM policies configured

Introducing Cyera

Cyera is a modern Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) platform that discovers, classifies, and continuously monitors your sensitive data across cloud services. By leveraging advanced AI and Natural Language Recognition (NLR) techniques, Cyera automatically identifies API keys, secrets, and tokens in GCP environments, ensuring you stay ahead of credential exposures and meet PCI-DSS audit requirements in real time.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Configure your GCP project

Ensure Security Command Center is enabled in your project and create a service account with the minimum required privileges for scanning Secret Manager, Cloud Storage, and compute resources.

gcloud auth application-default login

2
Enable scanning workflows

In the Cyera portal, navigate to Integrations → DSPM → Add new. Select Google Cloud Platform, provide your project ID and service account details, then define the scan scope including Secret Manager, Cloud Storage buckets, and compute instances.

3
Integrate with third-party tools

Configure webhooks or streaming exports to push scan results into your SIEM or Security Operations Center. Link findings to existing ticketing systems like Jira or ServiceNow for automated remediation workflows.

4
Validate results and tune policies

Review the initial detection report, prioritize resources with exposed API keys or high-privilege tokens, and adjust detection rules to reduce false positives. Schedule recurring scans to maintain visibility across your GCP environment.

Architecture & Workflow

GCP Secret Manager

Primary source for managed secrets and API keys

Cyera Connector

Scans resources and analyzes content for credentials

Cyera AI Engine

Applies NLR models and pattern detection

Security Operations

Dashboards, alerts, and remediation playbooks

Data Flow Summary

Enumerate Resources → Send to Cyera → Apply AI Detection → Route Findings

Best Practices & Tips

Performance Considerations

  • Start with critical projects and services
  • Use incremental scanning for large environments
  • Optimize API quotas and rate limits

Tuning Detection Rules

  • Maintain allowlists for test environments
  • Adjust confidence thresholds for accuracy
  • Focus on high-privilege service accounts

Common Pitfalls

  • Missing hardcoded secrets in Cloud Functions
  • Overlooking secrets in container images
  • Forgetting to rotate detected credentials

References & Further Reading

Next Steps

🔧 Fix: Remediate exposed API keys and secrets 🛡️ Prevent: Implement secure credential management