To securely back up the current Cisco ACI configuration to a remote location with encryption and authentication, and ensure that sensitive information is not exported, the following steps should be taken:

Create a Remote Location: Define a remote location where the backup will be stored. This involves specifying the hostname or IP address of the remote server and selecting the protocol (SCP/FTP/SFTP) to be used1.

Create a Configuration Export Policy: Set up an export policy that defines the format (XML/JSON) and the destination for the backup. This policy will also include the schedule for the backup to run once per day1.

Configure Global AES Encryption: To ensure that the backup is encrypted, configure the Global AES Encryption setting. This will allow for hashed secure properties, such as passwords and certificates, to be exported in an encrypted form. It’s important to configure a passphrase that is at least 16 characters long for the encryption1.

Schedule the Backup Job: Use the scheduler to set up the backup job to run once per day. This ensures that the backup process is automated and adheres to the customer’s security policy1.

Exclude Sensitive Information: To comply with the security policy that mandates sensitive information not be exported, ensure that the configuration export policy is set to exclude secure fields unless encryption is enabled1.

References :=

Cisco Guide on Creating a Backup for Your APIC Cluster1

Cisco Community Discussion on Backing Up ACI Configuration2