Overview
Level 3 focuses on integrating Vault into your organization’s broader access management and compliance framework. At this stage, password management becomes a structured, enforceable component of the overall security program governed by policy rather than convenience.
Administrators begin defining how credentials are shared, how frequently they’re rotated, and how compliance requirements (such as audits or key recovery) are satisfied.
Establishing Policy Controls
Vault supports the creation of internal policies that strengthen password discipline and reduce operational risk.
Recommended policy controls include:
- Password complexity rules: enforce minimum length and diversity of characters.
- Credential rotation schedules: mandate periodic password changes (for example, every 90 days).
- Ownership and accountability: require that each shared credential is tied to a responsible team or individual.
- Vault access governance: review member roles and collection access quarterly.
- Shared credential visibility: ensure sensitive logins are not visible to all organization members.
These policies can be documented internally and reflected in Vault’s usage expectations, even if enforcement is currently manual.
Integration with Security Operations
Vault should now be treated as part of your organization’s security operations workflow. That means credential changes, revocations, or access grants are reviewed and tracked the same way as other configuration changes or incident responses.
Practical examples include:
- Requiring Vault access reviews during onboarding and offboarding processes.
- Documenting credential updates in internal audit logs or ticketing systems.
- Correlating credential usage with incident or change tracking to identify misuse.
- Leveraging the Scout Audit Log to monitor Vault-related events such as account creation or role updates.
This establishes traceability and ensures all privileged access activity can be accounted for during audits or assessments.
Compliance Alignment
For organizations subject to compliance frameworks such as SOC 2, HIPAA, or CIS Controls, Vault provides a mechanism to demonstrate adherence to password and access control requirements.
Common examples include:
- Access Management (CIS Control 6): Enforce unique credentials per user and service.
- Data Protection (CIS Control 3): Store all sensitive credentials in encrypted form.
- Audit Log Management (CIS Control 8): Maintain event visibility for Vault-related actions.
Even if compliance certification is not a requirement, adopting these practices strengthens your overall maturity posture.
Maturity Progress
Reaching this level signifies your organization has entered Level 3 — Control 🟠 in the Vault maturity model.
Credential use is now governed by defined policies, integrated into broader operational processes, and reinforced through accountability.