Cisco pyATS Network Test and Automation Solution: Data-driven and reusable testing for modern networks

Appendix B

Secret Strings

Cisco’s pyATS framework is an automation platform designed to enhance and simplify network testing processes. A critical component of this framework is the use of testbed.yaml files, which serve as blueprints for the network under test. When statically defined, these files contain crucial configuration details, including device connectivity information, credentials, and other sensitive data such as usernames, enable secrets, and potentially hostnames or IP addresses. Given the sensitivity of this information, especially in secure or critical network environments, there's a significant emphasis on protecting these details from unauthorized access.

To address these security concerns, pyATS introduces the concept of "secret ...