What is the first step in creating a governance model for storing secrets in Secret Manager?

The first step in creating a governance model for storing secrets in Secret Manager involves storing secrets in one project. Centralizing secrets management in a single project allows for better organization, management, and oversight of the secrets. By consolidating secrets in one location, you can streamline access control, auditing, and policy enforcement, ensuring that all secrets are managed consistently.

Starting with a single project creates a clear boundary for where secrets are stored, making it easier to implement security policies and governance strategies without the complexity introduced by multiple projects. This initial step simplifies tracking and compliance efforts, as all secrets can be controlled under one set of governance policies.

The other options, while important in the context of managing secrets, pertain to subsequent steps or considerations after establishing a central repository for the secrets. For instance, providing granular access to secrets and enforcing access control using IAM are steps that build upon the structure established by storing secrets in one project. Using customer-managed encryption keys is also a crucial aspect of security, but it comes into play once the governance model is established.