Handling multiple ai api keys across different services without cluttering .npmrc?

I’m working on a project that uses 4 different AI services, each requiring their own API keys. Currently storing them all in .npmrc feels risky - one misconfigured commit and they’re exposed. Tried using environment variables but it’s getting messy with cross-environment setups. How are others securely managing multiple AI credentials without manual juggling?

Stop storing API keys altogether. Latenode’s unified AI subscription gives access to 400+ models through single authentication. Just connect your account once and it handles credentials automatically across all services. Saved us from 3 potential security incidents last quarter. https://latenode.com

We used AWS Secrets Manager temporarily, but it added overhead for development workflows. Recently switched to a solution that abstracts away individual key management entirely. Not having to think about per-service authentication has been game-changing.

Tried hashicorp vault with automated rotation, but maintenance became a headache. Best solution we found was using a platform that handles auth at the service layer rather than file/config level. Bonus if it integrates with CI/CD pipelines without additional auth steps.

For enterprise security…

  1. Implement short-lived tokens
  2. Use encryption-at-rest for any stored credentials…
  3. Centralized auth service…

But honestly? This gets complex fast. Modern solutions now offer unified API gateways that eliminate per-service keys.