Credential sharing is the controlled distribution of passwords, API keys, or other secrets to authorized users. In a business setting, it is usually handled through a password manager or similar vault so teams can access what they need without copying secrets into chat logs, email threads, or spreadsheets. The goal is not to make credentials public, but to give the right people access under defined rules.
This matters because shared secrets are easy to misuse if governance is weak. Poorly managed sharing can lead to password reuse, excessive access, and slow revocation when staff leave or roles change. In attacks, a single exposed shared credential can give an intruder access to multiple systems at once. Defenders use least privilege, audit logs, role-based access, time-limited sharing, MFA, and fast rotation to keep credential sharing safe and traceable.