Abstract: Techniques are provided for processing machine learning (ML) models in an ML pipeline using virtual resources and vault-based credentials. One method comprises obtaining a request to process an ML model in a given stage of an ML pipeline; obtaining an ML pipeline template to configure a virtual computing resource; obtaining a namespace that comprises model code for the ML model, artifacts of the ML model and credentials of a user stored in a digital vault; configuring the virtual computing resource using the ML pipeline template and the artifacts; initiating an execution of the model code for the ML model by the configured virtual computing resource, wherein the execution of the model code comprises accessing a protected resource using the credentials obtained from the vault; and obtaining results from the execution of the model code by the configured virtual computing resource.