diff --git a/.github/workflows/backport-command.yml b/.github/workflows/backport-command.yml
index aac81e7279ec..e02c7456a80b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backport-command.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backport-command.yml
@@ -25,11 +25,25 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: configure aws credentials
+        uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
+        with:
+          aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
+          aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+          aws-region: us-west-2
+
+      - name: get secrets from aws sm
+        uses: aws-actions/aws-secretsmanager-get-secrets@v2
+        with:
+          secret-ids: |
+            ,sdlc/prod/github/actions_bot_token
+          parse-json-secrets: true
 
       - name: Get type of backport (issue or PR)
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           CLIENT_PAYLOAD: ${{ toJson(github.event.client_payload) }}
         id: get_backport_type
         run: $SCRIPT_DIR/get_backport_type.sh
@@ -39,7 +53,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: peter-evans/create-or-update-comment@v1
         if: failure()
         with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           repository: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.repository.full_name }}
           comment-id: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.comment.id }}
           reaction-type: "-1"
@@ -48,7 +62,7 @@ jobs:
         if: failure()
         env:
           COMMENTED_ON: ${{ steps.get_backport_type.outputs.commented_on }}
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
         run: $SCRIPT_DIR/post_error.sh
         shell: bash
 
@@ -62,11 +76,11 @@ jobs:
       BACKPORT_BRANCH: ${{ needs.backport-type.outputs.backport_branch }}
     steps:
       - name: checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Get user
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
         id: user
         run: |
           username=$(gh api user --jq .login)
@@ -82,7 +96,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Discover and create milestone
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           TARGET_MILESTONE: ${{ needs.backport-type.outputs.target_milestone }}
         id: create_milestone
         run: $SCRIPT_DIR/create_milestone.sh
@@ -91,7 +105,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Create issue
         if: needs.backport-type.outputs.commented_on == 'issue'
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           TARGET_MILESTONE: ${{ steps.create_milestone.outputs.milestone }}
           ORIG_TITLE: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.issue.title }}
           ORIG_LABELS: ${{ toJson(github.event.client_payload.github.payload.issue.labels) }}
@@ -111,23 +125,23 @@ jobs:
         if: needs.backport-type.outputs.commented_on == 'pr'
         env:
           BACKPORT_PR_NUMBER: ${{ github.event.client_payload.pull_request.number }}
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
         id: backport_commits
         run: |
           backport_commits=$(gh api "repos/$TARGET_FULL_REPO/pulls/$BACKPORT_PR_NUMBER/commits" --jq .[].sha | paste -s -d ' ' -)
           echo ::set-output name=backport_commits::$backport_commits
 
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         if: needs.backport-type.outputs.commented_on == 'pr'
         with:
           repository: ${{ steps.user.outputs.username }}/${{ steps.user.outputs.repo }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           path: ./fork
 
       - name: Backport commits and get details
         if: needs.backport-type.outputs.commented_on == 'pr'
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           ORIG_TITLE: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.issue.title }}
           BACKPORT_COMMITS: ${{ steps.backport_commits.outputs.backport_commits }}
           IS_MERGED: ${{ github.event.client_payload.pull_request.merged }}
@@ -142,7 +156,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Create pull request
         if: needs.backport-type.outputs.commented_on == 'pr'
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           TARGET_MILESTONE: ${{ steps.create_milestone.outputs.milestone }}
           ORIG_TITLE: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.issue.title }}
           ORIG_REVIEWERS: ${{ steps.reviewers.outputs.reviewers }}
@@ -158,7 +172,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Add reaction
         uses: peter-evans/create-or-update-comment@v1
         with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           repository: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.repository.full_name }}
           comment-id: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.comment.id }}
           reaction-type: hooray
@@ -167,7 +181,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: peter-evans/create-or-update-comment@v1
         if: failure()
         with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           repository: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.repository.full_name }}
           comment-id: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.comment.id }}
           reaction-type: "-1"
@@ -176,14 +190,14 @@ jobs:
         if: failure()
         env:
           COMMENTED_ON: ${{ needs.backport-type.outputs.commented_on }}
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
         run: $SCRIPT_DIR/post_error.sh
         shell: bash
 
       - name: Create Issue On Error
         if: failure()
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           TARGET_MILESTONE: ${{ steps.create_milestone.outputs.milestone }}
           ORIG_TITLE: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.issue.title }}
           ORIG_LABELS: ${{ toJson(github.event.client_payload.github.payload.issue.labels) }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/backport-on-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/backport-on-merge.yml
index 05ead7ab61bb..c00d35963ce4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backport-on-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backport-on-merge.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       # Find the PR associated with this push, if there is one.
       - uses: jwalton/gh-find-current-pr@v1
@@ -29,10 +29,21 @@ jobs:
         if: success() && steps.findPr.outputs.number
         env:
           PR: ${{ steps.findPr.outputs.pr }}
-
+      - name: configure aws credentials
+        uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
+        with:
+          aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
+          aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+          aws-region: us-west-2
+      - name: get secrets from aws sm
+        uses: aws-actions/aws-secretsmanager-get-secrets@v2
+        with:
+          secret-ids: |
+            ,sdlc/prod/github/actions_bot_token
+          parse-json-secrets: true
       - name: Backport On Merge
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
         id: extract_required_backports_from_pr_body
         run: $SCRIPT_DIR/backport_on_merge.sh
         shell: bash
diff --git a/.github/workflows/buildkite-slash-commands.yml b/.github/workflows/buildkite-slash-commands.yml
index 223f06f3128f..45abe7e52dff 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/buildkite-slash-commands.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/buildkite-slash-commands.yml
@@ -10,23 +10,38 @@ jobs:
   run-build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: configure aws credentials
+        uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
+        with:
+          aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
+          aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+          aws-region: us-west-2
+
+      - name: get secrets from aws sm
+        uses: aws-actions/aws-secretsmanager-get-secrets@v2
+        with:
+          secret-ids: |
+            ,sdlc/prod/github/actions_bot_token
+            ,sdlc/prod/github/buildkite_token
+          parse-json-secrets: true
+
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with: 
           repository: redpanda-data/sparse-checkout 
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           path: sparse-checkout
 
       - uses: ./sparse-checkout 
         with:
           repository: redpanda-data/vtools
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           patterns: actions
           path: ghca 
 
       - name: Buildkite slash command action
         uses: ./ghca/actions/buildkite-slash-commands
         with:
-          buildkite_token: ${{ secrets.BUILDKITE_TOKEN }}
+          buildkite_token: ${{ env.BUILDKITE_TOKEN }}
           buildkite_org: redpanda
           buildkite_pipeline: redpanda
           command: ${{ github.event.client_payload.slash_command.command }}
@@ -34,7 +49,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Success reaction
         uses: peter-evans/create-or-update-comment@v2
         with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           repository: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.repository.full_name }}
           comment-id: ${{ github.event.client_payload.github.payload.comment.id }}
           reaction-type: hooray
@@ -43,5 +58,5 @@ jobs:
         if: failure()
         uses: ./ghca/actions/slash-command-error
         with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           body: ${{ env.ERROR_MSG }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/cloud-installpack-bk-trigger.yml b/.github/workflows/cloud-installpack-bk-trigger.yml
index 8881338dbdab..a81b60a78b51 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cloud-installpack-bk-trigger.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cloud-installpack-bk-trigger.yml
@@ -8,23 +8,38 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: configure aws credentials
+        uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
+        with:
+          aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
+          aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+          aws-region: us-west-2
+
+      - name: get secrets from aws sm
+        uses: aws-actions/aws-secretsmanager-get-secrets@v2
+        with:
+          secret-ids: |
+            ,sdlc/prod/github/actions_bot_token
+            ,sdlc/prod/github/buildkite_token
+          parse-json-secrets: true
+
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with: 
           repository: redpanda-data/sparse-checkout 
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           path: sparse-checkout
 
       - uses: ./sparse-checkout 
         with:
           repository: redpanda-data/vtools
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           patterns: actions
           path: ghca 
 
       - name: Trigger Versions Bump Buildkite Job
         uses: ./ghca/actions/buildkite-pipeline-trigger
         with:
-          buildkite_token: ${{ secrets.BUILDKITE_TOKEN }}
+          buildkite_token: ${{ env.BUILDKITE_TOKEN }}
           buildkite_org: redpanda
           buildkite_pipeline: ${{ vars.CLOUD_PIPELINE }}
           commit: HEAD
diff --git a/.github/workflows/kics-iac.yml b/.github/workflows/kics-iac.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 55eaabd200c1..000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/kics-iac.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-name: kics scanning
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: dev
-jobs:
-  kics:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    env:
-      AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.VULN_REPORTS_AWS_KEY_ID }}
-      AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.VULN_REPORTS_AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
-      VULN_REPORTS_AWS_BUCKET: ${{ secrets.VULN_REPORTS_AWS_BUCKET }}
-      AWS_EC2_METADATA_DISABLED: true
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-      - name: run kics Scan
-        uses: checkmarx/kics-github-action@v1.6.3
-        with:
-          path: .
-          ignore_on_exit: results
-          output_path: res/
-          exclude_paths: tests/,src/go/k8s/tests/,src/go/rpk/pkg/testfs/,src/go/k8s/config/
-      - name: display kics results
-        run: |
-          cat res/results.json
-      - name: upload scan results
-        run: |
-          set -eu
-          KEY="`date +%Y`/`date +%m`/`date +%d`/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY#*/}_${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}_kics_`date +%s`.json"
-          echo "[i] writing to s3 object '$KEY'"
-          aws s3 cp res/results.json s3://$VULN_REPORTS_AWS_BUCKET/$KEY
diff --git a/.github/workflows/old-backports.yml b/.github/workflows/old-backports.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index f1929f208f29..000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/old-backports.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-name: old-backports
-on:
-  schedule:
-    - cron: '*/10 * * * *'
-jobs:
-  alert-on-abandoned-backports:
-    outputs:
-      OUTPUT: ${{ steps.get-output.outputs.OUTPUT }}
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
-    steps:
-    - name: Get output
-      id: get-output
-      run: |
-        echo OUTPUT=$(gh search issues --label "kind/backport" --state open --repo "redpanda-data/redpanda" --updated "<`date --date="15 days ago" +"%Y"-"%m"-"%d"`" --sort updated --order asc --limit 15 --json "assignees,updatedAt,url" --jq '.[] | "@" + (.assignees[] | {login} | .login), .url, .updatedAt,"----"') >>"$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-      shell: bash
-
-    - name: "Post to a test channel (temporary)"
-      id: send-slack-message
-      uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1.24.0
-      with:
-        channel-id: "C05DHDW4VCL"
-        slack-message: "Test: ${{ steps.get-output.outputs.OUTPUT }}"
-      env:
-        SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VBOTBUILDOVICH_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/packages-created.yml b/.github/workflows/packages-created.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7d933822722b..000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/packages-created.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-name: package_creation_handler
-on:
-  repository_dispatch:
-    types: [packages-created]
-
-jobs:
-  package_creation_handler:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Notify PR
-        uses: peter-evans/create-or-update-comment@v1
-        with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.VTOOLS_GITHUB_API_TOKEN }}
-          issue-number: ${{ github.event.client_payload.pr_number }}
-          body: |
-            Packages created for ${{ github.event.client_payload.ref }}
-            Tests requiring them can now be run. Try:
-            `/chaos-test` or `/ducktape`
-        if: ${{ github.event.client_payload.pr_number }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-labeler.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-labeler.yml
index 00c36f0af66f..1b8741fa0816 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-labeler.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-labeler.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@ jobs:
       pull-requests: write
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/labeler@v4
+    - uses: actions/labeler@v5
       with:
         repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/promote.yml b/.github/workflows/promote.yml
index 44e909adcd13..bdb2e2b2c909 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/promote.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/promote.yml
@@ -7,10 +7,22 @@ jobs:
   trigger-promote:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - name: configure aws credentials
+        uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
+        with:
+          aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
+          aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+          aws-region: us-west-2
+      - name: get secrets from aws sm
+        uses: aws-actions/aws-secretsmanager-get-secrets@v2
+        with:
+          secret-ids: |
+            ,sdlc/prod/github/buildkite_token
+          parse-json-secrets: true
       - name: trigger redpanda promote pipeline
         uses: "buildkite/trigger-pipeline-action@v2.0.0"
         with:
-          buildkite_api_access_token: ${{ secrets.BUILDKITE_TOKEN }}
+          buildkite_api_access_token: ${{ env.BUILDKITE_TOKEN }}
           pipeline: "redpanda/redpanda"
           branch: dev
           message: ":github: Promote redpanda packages"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/render-draft-release-notes.yml b/.github/workflows/render-draft-release-notes.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d7ea20148b1..000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/render-draft-release-notes.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-name: Render Draft Release Notes
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: [ dev, 'v[0-9]+.[0-9]+.x' ]
-jobs:
-  render:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Curl rpchangelog
-        run: |
-          mkdir -v -p rpchangelog
-          curl -s -S -f -L -o rpchangelog/requirements.txt https://vectorized-public.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/rpchangelog/requirements.txt
-          curl -s -S -f -L -o rpchangelog/rpchangelog.py https://vectorized-public.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/rpchangelog/rpchangelog.py
-          chmod +x rpchangelog/rpchangelog.py
-      - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
-        with:
-          python-version: '3.10'
-          cache: 'pip'
-      - run: pip3 install -r ./rpchangelog/requirements.txt
-      - name: Render draft release notes to job summary
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        run: |
-          if [[ $GITHUB_REF_NAME == 'dev' ]]; then
-            PREVIOUS_TAG_NAME=$(gh -R "$GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER/redpanda" release list --exclude-drafts -L 1 | tail -1 | cut -f1)
-            YEAR_VER=$(echo "$PREVIOUS_TAG_NAME" | cut -d. -f1)
-            FEATURE_VER=$(echo "$PREVIOUS_TAG_NAME" | cut -d. -f2)
-            TAG_NAME="$YEAR_VER.$((FEATURE_VER+1)).1"
-          else
-            # e.g. GITHUB_REF_NAME=v22.3.x
-            SEARCH_PATTERN=${GITHUB_REF_NAME::-1}
-            PREVIOUS_TAG_NAME=$(gh -R "$GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER/redpanda" release list --exclude-drafts | grep "$SEARCH_PATTERN" | head -1 | cut -f1)
-            YEAR_VER=$(echo "$PREVIOUS_TAG_NAME" | cut -d. -f1)
-            FEATURE_VER=$(echo "$PREVIOUS_TAG_NAME" | cut -d. -f2)
-            PATCH_VER=$(echo "$PREVIOUS_TAG_NAME" | cut -d. -f3)
-            TAG_NAME="$YEAR_VER.$FEATURE_VER.$((PATCH_VER+1))"
-          fi
-          ./rpchangelog/rpchangelog.py --log-level=DEBUG --github-owner="$GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER" rel "$TAG_NAME" "$GITHUB_REF_NAME" "$PREVIOUS_TAG_NAME" >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
-          LINK_TO_SUMMARY="$GITHUB_SERVER_URL/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY/actions/runs/$GITHUB_RUN_ID"
-          FINAL_MSG="View rendered draft release notes in the job summary: $LINK_TO_SUMMARY"
-          if grep -q '## Unclear' "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"; then
-            echo '❌ Release Notes Unclear'
-            echo $FINAL_MSG
-            exit 1
-          else
-            echo '✔ Release Notes Clear'
-            echo $FINAL_MSG
-          fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/rp-storage-tool-checks.yml b/.github/workflows/rp-storage-tool-checks.yml
index 87e9a4c0b67f..c96dd5f6a162 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rp-storage-tool-checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rp-storage-tool-checks.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout sources
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Install stable toolchain
         uses: actions-rs/toolchain@v1
         with:
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout sources
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install stable toolchain
         uses: actions-rs/toolchain@v1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/slack-messages.yml b/.github/workflows/slack-messages.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 3a4ed5c20df6..000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/slack-messages.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-name: Release Slack Message
-on:
-  release:
-    types: [published]
-
-env: 
-  MESSAGE: "Redpanda release ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }} has been published: ${{ github.event.release.html_url }}"
-
-jobs:
-  post-slack-message:
-    name: Post Slack Message
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-
-    - name: "Post to internal #releases channel"
-      id: internal_releases
-      uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1.18.0
-      with:
-        channel-id: ${{ secrets.INTERNAL_RELEASES_SLACK_CHANNEL }}
-        slack-message: ${{ env.MESSAGE }}
-      env:
-        SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VBOTBUILDOVICH_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
-
-    - name: "Post to internal #general channel"
-      id: internal_general
-      uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1.18.0
-      with:
-        channel-id: ${{ secrets.INTERNAL_GENERAL_SLACK_CHANNEL }}
-        slack-message: ${{ env.MESSAGE }}
-      env:
-        SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VBOTBUILDOVICH_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
-
-    - name: "Post to community #releases channel"
-      id: community_releases
-      uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1.18.0
-      with:
-        channel-id: C034RDJLC31
-        slack-message: ${{ env.MESSAGE }}
-      env:
-        SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.BUILDERBOT_COMMUNITY_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
-
diff --git a/.github/workflows/slash-commands.yml b/.github/workflows/slash-commands.yml
index cb34e2d12a19..72019ce02ac3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/slash-commands.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/slash-commands.yml
@@ -6,10 +6,22 @@ jobs:
   slashCommandDispatch:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - name: configure aws credentials
+        uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
+        with:
+          aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
+          aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SM_READONLY_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+          aws-region: us-west-2
+      - name: get secrets from aws sm
+        uses: aws-actions/aws-secretsmanager-get-secrets@v2
+        with:
+          secret-ids: |
+            ,sdlc/prod/github/actions_bot_token
+          parse-json-secrets: true
       - name: Slash Command Dispatch
         uses: peter-evans/slash-command-dispatch@v2
         with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           permission: read
           issue-type: both
           commands: |