API Key Rotation: Security Best Practices
Set up regular API key rotation for your OpenClaw agent to minimize the impact of compromised credentials and maintain a strong security posture.
What You Will Get
By the end of this guide, your OpenClaw agent will have an API key rotation process that minimizes the window of exposure for any single key. You will be able to rotate keys without downtime and set up automatic rotation on a schedule.
API keys are the credentials that authenticate your agent with external services and that external clients use to call your agent's endpoints. If a key is compromised, the attacker has access until the key is revoked. Regular rotation limits this exposure window, even if you do not know a key has been compromised.
You will configure dual-key authentication for zero-downtime rotation, set up automatic rotation schedules, revoke keys instantly when needed, and audit key usage. The result is a key management system that keeps your agent secure without disrupting service.
Step-by-Step Setup
Follow these steps to implement API key rotation.
Review Current API Keys
Open the Security tab in your RunTheAgent dashboard and navigate to API Keys. Review all active keys, their creation dates, last usage timestamps, and scopes. Identify any keys that are older than your target rotation period or that are no longer in use.
Enable Dual-Key Authentication
Configure your agent to accept two active keys simultaneously. This is the foundation of zero-downtime rotation. When you rotate, the new key becomes active immediately while the old key remains valid for a grace period. All clients can migrate to the new key at their own pace.
Generate a New Key
Click Generate New Key in the API Keys panel. Give the key a descriptive label like 'production-2024-q3' so you can identify it later. Copy the new key immediately; it is shown only once. Store it securely in your secret management system.
Distribute the New Key
Update all clients and integrations that use the old key. This includes external services calling your agent's API, webhook configurations, and any internal tools. Verify that each client successfully authenticates with the new key before revoking the old one.
Revoke the Old Key
Once all clients have migrated to the new key, revoke the old one. Click the revoke button next to the old key in the dashboard. The key is immediately invalidated and any requests using it will receive a 401 error. Check your logs for any failed authentication attempts after revocation.
Set Up Automatic Rotation
Configure an automatic rotation schedule in the API Key settings. Choose a rotation interval, such as every 90 days. The system generates a new key, notifies you to distribute it, and revokes the old key after the grace period expires. Automatic rotation removes the burden of remembering to rotate manually.
Audit Key Usage Regularly
Review the key usage logs monthly to ensure keys are only used by authorized clients. Look for unexpected IP addresses, unusual request volumes, or keys used after their expected retirement date. Anomalies may indicate unauthorized access.
Tips and Best Practices
Use Scoped Keys
Create keys with the minimum permissions needed for each client. A key used only for reading data should not have write permissions. Scoped keys limit the damage if a key is compromised.
Never Embed Keys in Code
Store keys in environment variables or a secret management vault, never in source code or configuration files that are committed to version control. Embedded keys are one of the most common causes of credential leaks.
Set Short Grace Periods
The grace period during rotation should be as short as practical. A 24-hour grace period is sufficient for most teams. Longer grace periods extend the window during which an old, potentially compromised key remains valid.
Rotate Immediately After a Compromise
If you suspect a key has been compromised, do not wait for the scheduled rotation. Revoke the key immediately and generate a new one. Notify all affected clients and review logs for unauthorized usage during the exposure window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
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