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GitHub Advanced Security: How to Change Secret Scanning Settings on Public GitHub Repository?

By: Author Alex Lim

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Exam

Learn how to modify secret scanning settings on a public GitHub repository. Follow our step-by-step guide to ensure your repository’s security with GitHub Advanced Security.

Table of Contents

Question

What do you need to do if you want to change the settings for secret scanning on a public repository?

A. Enable secret scanning on the repository.
B. Switch the repository to a private one with GitHub Advanced Security.
C. Get admin permissions on the repository.

Answer

B. Switch the repository to a private one with GitHub Advanced Security.

Explanation

You can change the settings for secret scanning only on private repositories with GitHub Advanced Security.

To change the settings for secret scanning on a public repository, you need to switch the repository to a private one with GitHub Advanced Security. Public repositories have limited options when it comes to configuring secret scanning settings.

GitHub Advanced Security is a suite of security features, including secret scanning, that helps identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities in your codebase. However, these advanced features are only available for private repositories or public repositories owned by organizations with an Advanced Security license.

By converting your public repository to a private one and enabling GitHub Advanced Security, you gain access to a range of customizable settings for secret scanning. This allows you to:

  1. Enable or disable secret scanning for the specific repository.
  2. Configure which secrets you want to scan for, using pre-defined patterns or custom regular expressions.
  3. Set up notifications and alerts for when secrets are detected in your repository.
  4. Integrate with other tools and services to automate the remediation process.

To switch your repository from public to private:

  1. Navigate to your repository’s “Settings” tab.
  2. Under the “Danger Zone” section, click on “Change repository visibility.”
  3. Select “Make private” and confirm the action.

Once your repository is private, you can enable GitHub Advanced Security by following these steps:

  1. Go to your organization’s security settings.
  2. Under “GitHub Advanced Security,” click on “Enable for this organization.”
  3. Select the repositories you want to enable Advanced Security for, including the recently privatized repository.

After enabling GitHub Advanced Security, you can access and modify the secret scanning settings for your repository, giving you greater control over how secrets are detected and managed within your codebase.

Remember, while making your repository private is necessary to access advanced security features, it also means that your code will no longer be publicly accessible. Consider the implications of this change before proceeding.

In summary, to change the settings for secret scanning on a public repository, you must convert it to a private repository and enable GitHub Advanced Security. This process grants you access to a wide range of customizable settings to ensure the security of your codebase.

GitHub Advanced Security certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the GitHub Advanced Security exam and earn GitHub Advanced Security certification.