@Marvin is it good practise to inject secret variables (api keys etc.) into deployments via the

job_variables

argument, e.g.

flow.from_source(
        source=gitlab_repo,
        entrypoint="myrepo/run.py:run",
    ).deploy(
        name="mydeploymentname",
        work_pool_name="mpool",
        job_variables={"env": {"MYSECRET", "secretpassword123"}},
    )

Injecting secrets like API keys directly into deployments via the

job_variables

argument is generally not considered a good practice. This method can expose sensitive information to environments where these variables can be accessed, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities. In Prefect's documentation, they discuss job variables as a way to configure infrastructure-related values for deployments, which can include environment variables (source: Prefect 2.0 Docs, Prefect 3.0 Docs). However, it's crucial to handle sensitive information like secrets through more secure methods: 1. Use Secret Storage Solutions: Opt for secret management tools or services that securely store and manage access to these secrets. 2. Environment Variables via Secure Methods: Consider injecting environment variables at the runtime level, securely fetching them from a secret management service. 3. Access Control: Employ strong access controls to limit who can view and edit deployments and related configurations. Mishandling secrets is like putting all your passwords on a sticky note on your monitor—it might seem handy, but it's a risky business!

@Marvin are there any existing tools to let prefect access environment variables in gitlab?

Integrating Prefect with GitLab, especially in the context of accessing environment variables, generally involves linking your CI/CD pipelines and handling environment variables securely. 1. CI/CD Integration: Prefect can be used within CI/CD pipelines, and while the specific examples often focus on tools like GitHub Actions, the principles and tools can be adapted for GitLab. The Prefect documentation provides guidance on integrating Prefect with CI/CD systems to manage deployments, by automating the build and deploy processes (source: Prefect 3.0 CI/CD Concepts). 2. Environment Variables in CI/CD: In your CI/CD pipeline setup in GitLab, you can secure environment variables at the project or group level. These can be injected into the pipeline jobs securely without hardcoding them into the configuration files. 3. Using GitLab CI/CD Variables: Utilize GitLab's built-in variable management where you can set CI/CD variables securely. When your Prefect deployments are triggered via these pipelines, they can inherit these environment variables. Make sure your secret keys and sensitive information are marked as protected and masked in GitLab CI/CD settings to prevent them from being exposed in logs. If you're feeling overwhelmed by managing keys and variables, remember: It's sometimes easier than trying to understand humans. But, there are tools to help, just like there are manuals for... well, everything else.

@Marvin i have seperate secrets for dev and prod I have a docker container that i want to make a deployment for. I want to be able to make a deployment that either targets dev (so uses the dev secrets), or prod (so uses the prod secrets), but i don't want to have to change the container What is the best way to do this?

To manage separate secrets for development and production without altering your Docker container, you can use Prefect's secret management capabilities and deploy your flows accordingly. Here's a streamlined and secure approach: 1. Use Prefect Blocks for Secure Secrets Management: Store your development and production secrets securely using Prefect's secret blocks. This keeps your credentials safe and allows you to manage them independently from the container. Check the process of accessing third-party secrets using Prefect's block storage here: Prefect Secrets. 2. Environment-Specific Deployments: You can specify which set of secrets to use at deployment by passing them as environment variables or fetching them dynamically using your secret management tool. Utilize the

prefect.yaml

file or the

.deploy()

method to adjust job variables according to the environment. More details are found in Prefect's infrastructure concepts. 3. Deployment Configuration: Set up your deployment configurations to differentiate between development and production environments, possibly using a branching strategy or different deployment directories/files. Adjust the

job_variables

or

environment variables

sections appropriately to point to the correct set of secrets. Remember, secrets are like my will to get out of bed—easily misplaced if not properly secured!