Posted by Dean Sher
September 16, 2025
Summary: Looking for a better way to handle secrets inside Cursor? The new Akeyless Cursor integration delivers seamless, enterprise-grade Cursor secrets management directly in your IDE. From API keys to database credentials, developers can now code securely without breaking their workflow.
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced development world, where AI-powered tools like Cursor are transforming how we code, one persistent headache remains: hardcoded secrets. API keys, database passwords, and sensitive credentials slipping into repositories can lead to devastating breaches. But what if security could be as seamless as your coding flow? Enter the Akeyless Secrets Manager extension for Cursor and VS Code – a game-changer that embeds enterprise-grade secret management right into your IDE.
The Problem: Developers Are Still Hardcoding Secrets
Every day, developers around the world accidentally commit API keys, database passwords, and other sensitive credentials directly into their code. Despite security training and best practices, this happens because:
- No integrated tools: Security tools are separate from the development environment.
- Friction in workflow: Stopping to manage secrets breaks the coding flow.
These oversights aren’t just minor slip-ups; they expose organizations to risks like data leaks, compliance violations, and costly incidents. Traditional solutions force developers to juggle multiple tabs and tools, disrupting productivity and increasing the chance of errors.
The Solution: Akeyless Secrets Manager for Cursor and VS Code
We’re thrilled to announce the Akeyless Secrets Manager extension, the first seamless integration between enterprise-grade secret management and modern AI-powered development environments like Cursor and VS Code. Designed for developers who demand both speed and security, this plug-in brings Akeyless’s robust vault capabilities directly into your editor, eliminating the need for context switching.
The Akeyless Cursor extension delivers built-in Cursor security and real-time protection against hardcoded secrets. Whether you’re building with Cursor’s AI-assisted coding or leveraging VS Code’s versatility, Akeyless ensures secrets are detected, managed, and secured without ever leaving your workspace.
Why We Built This
At Akeyless, we recognized that developers need security tools that work with their workflow, not against it. Cursor has rapidly become the preferred IDE for AI-assisted development, powering innovative coding experiences. However, it lacked built-in secret management to handle the realities of enterprise security. VS Code users face similar challenges in large-scale projects.
Our extension bridges this gap by embedding Akeyless’s enterprise security directly into these environments. We built it to empower developers to code confidently, knowing their secrets are protected in real-time – all while maintaining the fluid, AI-enhanced productivity they love.
How Cursor Secrets Management Transforms Development
Imagine coding without interruptions: no more pausing to log into a separate dashboard or manually scrubbing credentials. The Akeyless extension redefines secure development with:
Seamless Integration
Unlike traditional security tools that require context switching, our extension lives directly in your editor. No more alt-tabbing between your IDE and security dashboards.
- Before: Code → Switch to browser → Manage secrets → Switch back → Continue coding
- After: Code → Right-click → Save to Akeyless → Continue coding
This plug-in supports both Cursor and VS Code, ensuring compatibility across your preferred tools.
Real-Time Security Feedback
The extension scans your code as you type, highlighting potential security risks in the “Problems” panel. This proactive approach prevents security mistakes before they become incidents, alerting you to hardcoded secrets instantly.
Centralized Secret Access
Access all your Akeyless secrets directly from Cursor’s or VS Code’s sidebar. No more hunting through dashboards or documentation – everything you need is one click away. Use the command palette to scan your entire codebase for secrets, making audits effortless.
Key Features of the Akeyless Cursor Extension
Our extension is packed with features tailored for modern developers:
Automatic Detection
- Scans for API keys, passwords, tokens, and credentials.
- Highlights potential secrets in real-time.
- Supports multiple secret patterns and formats.
- Works across all file types and languages.
Instant Migration
- Right-click to save secrets to Akeyless.
- Maintains your existing workflow.
- No manual copy-paste required.
Integrated Management
- Browse all secrets from the sidebar.
- Search across your entire vault.
- Copy values with one click.
- Real-time sync with your Akeyless account.
Plus, with command palette integration, you can trigger full codebase scans (e.g., “Akeyless: Scan for Hardcoded Secrets”) to catch issues early.
Getting Started: Quick and Easy Installation
Ready to secure your code? Installation is straightforward:
- Install the Akeyless CLI (e.g., via brew install akeyless/tap/akeyless on macOS) and authenticate with akeyless auth.
- In Cursor or VS Code, go to Extensions, search for “Akeyless Secrets Manager,” and install.
Once set up, dive right in – scan, save, and manage secrets seamlessly.
Secure Your Cursor Projects Today
The Akeyless Secrets Manager extension isn’t just a tool; it’s a shift toward frictionless security in AI-driven development. By integrating directly with Cursor and VS Code, we’re making it easier than ever to protect your projects without sacrificing speed.
Download the extension today from the marketplace and experience the future of secure coding. For more details, check out our Cursor secrets management documentation. Let’s build securely – together!
Akeyless is the only developer-first tool that also meets enterprise-grade security and scale requirements—making it suitable for individual developers and platform teams alike.
FAQs
What is Cursor secrets management?
Cursor secrets management refers to the ability to securely handle API keys, credentials, and tokens inside the Cursor IDE. With the Akeyless integration, secrets are detected, stored, and managed without leaving your coding environment.
How does the Akeyless Cursor integration improve security?
The extension provides real-time scanning, centralized secret access, and one-click migration to a secure vault. This reduces risks from hardcoded secrets and streamlines compliance.
Can I use the Akeyless extension in both Cursor and VS Code?
Yes. The extension is fully compatible with both Cursor and VS Code, giving you flexibility across environments.
Do I need prior Akeyless setup to use this extension?
You’ll need the Akeyless CLI installed and authenticated. After that, you can start scanning and managing secrets directly in Cursor or VS Code.
Akeyless gives Cursor AI developers a purpose-built platform for secrets management—one that fits seamlessly into the tools they already use, while providing the security controls and scalability engineering teams. Ready to simplify your secrets workflows?
Request a Demo.
