---
name: secrets-manager-engine-custom-prepare
title: Preparing to create custom credentials
description: You can enable your Secrets Manager service instance to create custom credentials secrets by adding a custom credentials engine configuration.
last-updated: 2025-04-28
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/secrets-manager?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Preparing to create custom credentials
{: #custom-credentials-prepare}

You can enable your Secrets Manager service instance to create custom credentials secrets by adding a custom credentials engine configuration.

In Secrets Manager, the custom credentials engine configuration acts as the back end for the `custom_credentials` secret type. Custom credentials can represent various types of secrets, implemented by using a credentials provider.

A credentials provider is an  IBM Cloud® Code Engine job that implements a Secrets Manager interface. It is typically designed to create and delete credentials for a third-party system.

This model enables cloud developers to extend Secrets Manager by supporting additional secret types. Developers can then create and manage these secrets alongside the built-in secret types, can ensure a uniform lifecycle management experience.

## Before you begin
{: #custom-credentials-prepare-before-begin}

It is recommended to first explore the [Code Engine documentation](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/codeengine?topic=codeengine-getting-started&format=markdown) and decide on aspects such as: implementation language, and serverless runtime environment configuration possibilities.

Make sure to review [security-related pre-requisites](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/secrets-manager?topic=secrets-manager-custom-credentials-config&interface=ui&format=markdown#custom-credentials-config-before-begin) and [other security considerations](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/secrets-manager?topic=secrets-manager-engine-custom-ce-job&interface=ui&format=markdown#credentials-provider-security-considerations).

## Next steps
{: #custom-credentials-prepare-next-steps}

After you have completed your prerequisites, you can start [creating a Code Engine project and job](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/secrets-manager?topic=secrets-manager-engine-custom-ce-job&format=markdown)