diff --git a/command/agent/secure_variable_endpoint.go b/command/agent/secure_variable_endpoint.go
index a24cc878a..1c1f06fa9 100644
--- a/command/agent/secure_variable_endpoint.go
+++ b/command/agent/secure_variable_endpoint.go
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package agent
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ func (s *HTTPServer) SecureVariablesListRequest(resp http.ResponseWriter, req *h
 func (s *HTTPServer) SecureVariableSpecificRequest(resp http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) (interface{}, error) {
 	path := strings.TrimPrefix(req.URL.Path, "/v1/var/")
 	if len(path) == 0 {
-		return nil, CodedError(http.StatusBadRequest, "Missing secure variable path")
+		return nil, CodedError(http.StatusBadRequest, "missing secure variable path")
 	}
 	switch req.Method {
 	case http.MethodGet:
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ func (s *HTTPServer) secureVariableQuery(resp http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Req
 	setMeta(resp, &out.QueryMeta)
 
 	if out.Data == nil {
-		return nil, CodedError(http.StatusNotFound, "Secure variable not found")
+		return nil, CodedError(http.StatusNotFound, "secure variable not found")
 	}
 	return out.Data, nil
 }
@@ -75,23 +77,49 @@ func (s *HTTPServer) secureVariableUpsert(resp http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Re
 	if err := decodeBody(req, &SecureVariable); err != nil {
 		return nil, CodedError(http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
 	}
-	if SecureVariable.Items == nil {
-		return nil, CodedError(http.StatusBadRequest, "Secure variable missing required Items object.")
+	if len(SecureVariable.Items) == 0 {
+		return nil, CodedError(http.StatusBadRequest, "secure variable missing required Items object")
 	}
+
 	SecureVariable.Path = path
 
-	// Format the request
+	// This function always makes an upsert request with length of 1, which is
+	// an important proviso for when we check for conflicts and return them
 	args := structs.SecureVariablesUpsertRequest{
 		Data: []*structs.SecureVariableDecrypted{&SecureVariable},
 	}
 	s.parseWriteRequest(req, &args.WriteRequest)
+	if err := parseCAS(req, &args); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	var out structs.SecureVariablesUpsertResponse
 	if err := s.agent.RPC(structs.SecureVariablesUpsertRPCMethod, &args, &out); err != nil {
+
+		// This handles the cases where there is an error in the CAS checking
+		// function that renders it unable to return the conflicting variable
+		// so it returns a text error. We can at least consider these unknown
+		// moments to be CAS violations
+		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "cas error:") {
+			resp.WriteHeader(http.StatusConflict)
+		}
+
+		// Otherwise it's a non-CAS error
+		setIndex(resp, out.WriteMeta.Index)
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	setIndex(resp, out.WriteMeta.Index)
 
+	// As noted earlier, the upsert request generated by this endpoint always
+	// has length of 1, so we expect a non-Nil Conflicts slice to have len(1).
+	// We then extract the conflict value at index 0
+	if len(out.Conflicts) == 1 {
+		setIndex(resp, out.Conflicts[0].ModifyIndex)
+		resp.WriteHeader(http.StatusConflict)
+		return out.Conflicts[0], nil
+	}
+
+	// Finally, we know that this is a success response, send it to the caller
+	setIndex(resp, out.WriteMeta.Index)
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
@@ -102,11 +130,49 @@ func (s *HTTPServer) secureVariableDelete(resp http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Re
 		Path: path,
 	}
 	s.parseWriteRequest(req, &args.WriteRequest)
+	if err := parseCAS(req, &args); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	var out structs.SecureVariablesDeleteResponse
 	if err := s.agent.RPC(structs.SecureVariablesDeleteRPCMethod, &args, &out); err != nil {
+
+		// This handles the cases where there is an error in the CAS checking
+		// function that renders it unable to return the conflicting variable
+		// so it returns a text error. We can at least consider these unknown
+		// moments to be CAS violations
+		if strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "cas error:") {
+			resp.WriteHeader(http.StatusConflict)
+		}
+		setIndex(resp, out.WriteMeta.Index)
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
+	// If the CAS validation can decode the conflicting value, Conflict is
+	// non-Nil. Write out a 409 Conflict response.
+	if out.Conflict != nil {
+		setIndex(resp, out.Conflict.ModifyIndex)
+		resp.WriteHeader(http.StatusConflict)
+		return out.Conflict, nil
+	}
+
+	// Finally, we know that this is a success response, send it to the caller
 	setIndex(resp, out.WriteMeta.Index)
+	resp.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
 	return nil, nil
 }
+
+func parseCAS(req *http.Request, rpc CheckIndexSetter) error {
+	if cq := req.URL.Query().Get("cas"); cq != "" {
+		ci, err := strconv.ParseUint(cq, 10, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			return CodedError(http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("can not parse cas: %v", err))
+		}
+		rpc.SetCheckIndex(ci)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+type CheckIndexSetter interface {
+	SetCheckIndex(uint64)
+}
diff --git a/command/agent/secure_variable_endpoint_test.go b/command/agent/secure_variable_endpoint_test.go
index 177648840..3ac7fb74b 100644
--- a/command/agent/secure_variable_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/command/agent/secure_variable_endpoint_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package agent
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http"
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			respW := httptest.NewRecorder()
 			obj, err := s.Server.SecureVariableSpecificRequest(respW, req)
-			require.EqualError(t, err, "Missing secure variable path")
+			require.EqualError(t, err, "missing secure variable path")
 			require.Nil(t, obj)
 		})
 		t.Run("query_unset_variable", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			respW := httptest.NewRecorder()
 			obj, err := s.Server.SecureVariableSpecificRequest(respW, req)
-			require.EqualError(t, err, "Secure variable not found")
+			require.EqualError(t, err, "secure variable not found")
 			require.Nil(t, obj)
 		})
 		t.Run("query", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			respW := httptest.NewRecorder()
 			obj, err := s.Server.SecureVariableSpecificRequest(respW, req)
-			require.EqualError(t, err, "Secure variable missing required Items object.")
+			require.EqualError(t, err, "secure variable missing required Items object")
 			require.Nil(t, obj)
 		})
 		t.Run("create", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -220,10 +221,10 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 		rpcResetSV(s)
 
-		sv1U := sv1.Copy()
-		sv1U.Items["new"] = "new"
-
 		t.Run("error_parse_update", func(t *testing.T) {
+			sv1U := sv1.Copy()
+			sv1U.Items["new"] = "new"
+
 			// break the request body
 			badBuf := encodeBrokenReq(&sv1U)
 
@@ -240,6 +241,9 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			require.Nil(t, obj)
 		})
 		t.Run("error_rpc_update", func(t *testing.T) {
+			sv1U := sv1.Copy()
+			sv1U.Items["new"] = "new"
+
 			// test broken rpc error
 			buf := encodeReq(&sv1U)
 			req, err := http.NewRequest("PUT", "/v1/var/"+sv1.Path+"?region=bad", buf)
@@ -252,11 +256,16 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			require.Nil(t, obj)
 		})
 		t.Run("update", func(t *testing.T) {
-			require.NoError(t, rpcWriteSV(s, sv1))
+			sv := mock.SecureVariable()
+			require.NoError(t, rpcWriteSV(s, sv))
+			sv, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv.Namespace, sv.Path)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 
+			svU := sv.Copy()
+			svU.Items["new"] = "new"
 			// Make the HTTP request
-			buf := encodeReq(&sv1U)
-			req, err := http.NewRequest("PUT", "/v1/var/"+sv1.Path, buf)
+			buf := encodeReq(&svU)
+			req, err := http.NewRequest("PUT", "/v1/var/"+sv.Path, buf)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			respW := httptest.NewRecorder()
 
@@ -268,15 +277,92 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			// Check for the index
 			require.NotZero(t, respW.HeaderMap.Get("X-Nomad-Index"))
 
-			// Check the variable was created
-			out, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv1.Namespace, sv1.Path)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			require.NotNil(t, out)
+			{
+				out, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv.Namespace, sv.Path)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.NotNil(t, out)
 
-			sv1.CreateIndex, sv1.ModifyIndex = out.CreateIndex, out.ModifyIndex
-			require.Equal(t, sv1.Path, out.Path)
-			require.NotEqual(t, sv1, out)
-			require.Equal(t, "new", out.Items["new"])
+				// Check that written varible does not equal the input to rule out input mutation
+				require.NotEqual(t, svU.SecureVariableMetadata, out.SecureVariableMetadata)
+
+				// Update the input token with the updated metadata so that we
+				// can use a simple equality check
+				svU.CreateIndex, svU.ModifyIndex = out.CreateIndex, out.ModifyIndex
+				svU.CreateTime, svU.ModifyTime = out.CreateTime, out.ModifyTime
+				require.Equal(t, svU.SecureVariableMetadata, out.SecureVariableMetadata)
+
+				// fmt writes sorted output of maps for testability.
+				require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprint(svU.Items), fmt.Sprint(out.Items))
+			}
+		})
+		t.Run("update-cas", func(t *testing.T) {
+			sv := mock.SecureVariable()
+			require.NoError(t, rpcWriteSV(s, sv))
+			sv, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv.Namespace, sv.Path)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			svU := sv.Copy()
+			svU.Items["new"] = "new"
+
+			// Make the HTTP request
+			{
+				buf := encodeReq(&svU)
+				req, err := http.NewRequest("PUT", "/v1/var/"+svU.Path+"?cas=0", buf)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				respW := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+				// Make the request
+				obj, err := s.Server.SecureVariableSpecificRequest(respW, req)
+				require.Equal(t, http.StatusConflict, respW.Result().StatusCode)
+
+				// Evaluate the conflict variable
+				require.NotNil(t, obj)
+				conflict, ok := obj.(*structs.SecureVariableDecrypted)
+				require.True(t, ok, "Expected *structs.SecureVariableDecrypted, got %T", obj)
+				require.True(t, sv.Equals(*conflict))
+
+				// Check for the index
+				require.NotZero(t, respW.HeaderMap.Get("X-Nomad-Index"))
+			}
+			// Check the variable was not updated
+			{
+				out, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv.Namespace, sv.Path)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.Equal(t, sv, out)
+			}
+			// Make the HTTP request
+			{
+				buf := encodeReq(&svU)
+				req, err := http.NewRequest("PUT", "/v1/var/"+svU.Path+"?cas="+fmt.Sprint(sv.ModifyIndex), buf)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				respW := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+				// Make the request
+				obj, err := s.Server.SecureVariableSpecificRequest(respW, req)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.Nil(t, obj)
+
+				// Check for the index
+				require.NotZero(t, respW.HeaderMap.Get("X-Nomad-Index"))
+			}
+			// Check the variable was created correctly
+			{
+				out, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv.Namespace, sv.Path)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.NotNil(t, out)
+
+				require.NotEqual(t, sv, out)
+				require.NotEqual(t, svU.SecureVariableMetadata, out.SecureVariableMetadata)
+
+				// Update the input token with the updated metadata so that we
+				// can use a simple equality check
+				svU.CreateIndex, svU.ModifyIndex = out.CreateIndex, out.ModifyIndex
+				svU.CreateTime, svU.ModifyTime = out.CreateTime, out.ModifyTime
+				require.Equal(t, svU.SecureVariableMetadata, out.SecureVariableMetadata)
+
+				// fmt writes sorted output of maps for testability.
+				require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprint(svU.Items), fmt.Sprint(out.Items))
+			}
 		})
 		rpcResetSV(s)
 
@@ -294,6 +380,58 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			require.EqualError(t, err, "No path to region")
 			require.Nil(t, obj)
 		})
+		t.Run("delete-cas", func(t *testing.T) {
+			sv := mock.SecureVariable()
+			require.NoError(t, rpcWriteSV(s, sv))
+			sv, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv.Namespace, sv.Path)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			// Make the HTTP request
+			{
+				req, err := http.NewRequest("DELETE", "/v1/var/"+sv.Path+"?cas=0", nil)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				respW := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+				// Make the request
+				obj, err := s.Server.SecureVariableSpecificRequest(respW, req)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.Equal(t, http.StatusConflict, respW.Result().StatusCode)
+
+				// Evaluate the conflict variable
+				require.NotNil(t, obj)
+				conflict, ok := obj.(*structs.SecureVariableDecrypted)
+				require.True(t, ok, "Expected *structs.SecureVariableDecrypted, got %T", obj)
+				require.True(t, sv.Equals(*conflict))
+
+				// Check for the index
+				require.NotZero(t, respW.HeaderMap.Get("X-Nomad-Index"))
+			}
+
+			// Check variable was not deleted
+			{
+				svChk, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv.Namespace, sv.Path)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.NotNil(t, svChk)
+				require.Equal(t, sv, svChk)
+			}
+			// Make the HTTP request
+			{
+				req, err := http.NewRequest("DELETE", "/v1/var/"+sv.Path+"?cas="+fmt.Sprint(sv.ModifyIndex), nil)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				respW := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+				// Make the request
+				obj, err := s.Server.SecureVariableSpecificRequest(respW, req)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.Nil(t, obj)
+			}
+			// Check variable was deleted
+			{
+				svChk, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv.Namespace, sv.Path)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.Nil(t, svChk)
+			}
+		})
 		t.Run("delete", func(t *testing.T) {
 			sv1 := mock.SecureVariable()
 			require.NoError(t, rpcWriteSV(s, sv1))
@@ -310,6 +448,7 @@ func TestHTTP_SecureVariables(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// Check for the index
 			require.NotZero(t, respW.HeaderMap.Get("X-Nomad-Index"))
+			require.Equal(t, http.StatusNoContent, respW.Result().StatusCode)
 
 			// Check variable was deleted
 			sv, err := rpcReadSV(s, sv1.Namespace, sv1.Path)
diff --git a/nomad/encrypter.go b/nomad/encrypter.go
index d56d0a4a3..ff77e6df0 100644
--- a/nomad/encrypter.go
+++ b/nomad/encrypter.go
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ func (e *Encrypter) activeKeySetLocked() (*keyset, error) {
 func (e *Encrypter) keysetByIDLocked(keyID string) (*keyset, error) {
 	keyset, ok := e.keyring[keyID]
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no such key %s in keyring", keyID)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no such key %q in keyring", keyID)
 	}
 	return keyset, nil
 }
diff --git a/nomad/mock/acl.go b/nomad/mock/acl.go
index 584ddd675..71afd9007 100644
--- a/nomad/mock/acl.go
+++ b/nomad/mock/acl.go
@@ -38,6 +38,46 @@ func NamespacePolicy(namespace string, policy string, capabilities []string) str
 	return policyHCL
 }
 
+// NamespacePolicy is a helper for generating the policy hcl for a given
+// namespace. Either policy or capabilities may be nil but not both.
+func NamespacePolicyWithSecureVariables(namespace string, policy string, capabilities []string, svars map[string][]string) string {
+	policyHCL := fmt.Sprintf("namespace %q {", namespace)
+	if policy != "" {
+		policyHCL += fmt.Sprintf("\n\tpolicy = %q", policy)
+	}
+	if len(capabilities) != 0 {
+		for i, s := range capabilities {
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(s, "\"") {
+				capabilities[i] = strconv.Quote(s)
+			}
+		}
+		policyHCL += fmt.Sprintf("\n\tcapabilities = [%v]", strings.Join(capabilities, ","))
+	}
+
+	policyHCL += SecureVariablePolicy(svars)
+	policyHCL += "\n}"
+	return policyHCL
+}
+
+// SecureVariablePolicy is a helper for generating the policy hcl for a given
+// secure_variable block inside of a namespace.
+func SecureVariablePolicy(svars map[string][]string) string {
+	policyHCL := ""
+	if len(svars) > 0 {
+		policyHCL = "\n\n\tsecure_variables {"
+		for p, c := range svars {
+			for i, s := range c {
+				if !strings.HasPrefix(s, "\"") {
+					c[i] = strconv.Quote(s)
+				}
+			}
+			policyHCL += fmt.Sprintf("\n\t\tpath %q { capabilities = [%v]}", p, strings.Join(c, ","))
+		}
+		policyHCL += "\n\t}"
+	}
+	return policyHCL
+}
+
 // HostVolumePolicy is a helper for generating the policy hcl for a given
 // host-volume. Either policy or capabilities may be nil but not both.
 func HostVolumePolicy(vol string, policy string, capabilities []string) string {
diff --git a/nomad/mock/mock.go b/nomad/mock/mock.go
index cf3126b74..09c781296 100644
--- a/nomad/mock/mock.go
+++ b/nomad/mock/mock.go
@@ -2303,33 +2303,13 @@ func ServiceRegistrations() []*structs.ServiceRegistration {
 type MockSecureVariables map[string]*structs.SecureVariableDecrypted
 
 func SecureVariable() *structs.SecureVariableDecrypted {
-	envs := []string{"dev", "test", "prod"}
-	envIdx := rand.Intn(3)
-	env := envs[envIdx]
-	domain := fake.DomainName()
-	path := strings.ReplaceAll(env+"."+domain, ".", "/")
-	createIdx := uint64(rand.Intn(100) + 100)
-	createDT := fake.DateRange(time.Now().AddDate(0, -1, 0), time.Now())
-	sv := &structs.SecureVariableDecrypted{
-		SecureVariableMetadata: structs.SecureVariableMetadata{
-			Path:        path,
-			Namespace:   structs.DefaultNamespace,
-			CreateIndex: createIdx,
-			ModifyIndex: createIdx,
-			CreateTime:  createDT,
-			ModifyTime:  createDT,
-		},
+	return &structs.SecureVariableDecrypted{
+		SecureVariableMetadata: mockSecureVariableMetadata(),
 		Items: structs.SecureVariableItems{
 			"key1": "value1",
 			"key2": "value2",
 		},
 	}
-	// Flip a coin to see if we should return a "modified" object
-	if fake.Bool() {
-		sv.ModifyTime = fake.DateRange(sv.CreateTime, time.Now())
-		sv.ModifyIndex = sv.CreateIndex + uint64(rand.Intn(100))
-	}
-	return sv
 }
 
 // SecureVariables returns a random number of secure variables between min
@@ -2381,34 +2361,13 @@ func (svs MockSecureVariables) List() []*structs.SecureVariableDecrypted {
 type MockSecureVariablesEncrypted map[string]*structs.SecureVariableEncrypted
 
 func SecureVariableEncrypted() *structs.SecureVariableEncrypted {
-	envs := []string{"dev", "test", "prod"}
-	envIdx := rand.Intn(3)
-	env := envs[envIdx]
-	domain := fake.DomainName()
-	path := strings.ReplaceAll(env+"."+domain, ".", "/")
-	// owner := fake.Person()
-	createIdx := uint64(rand.Intn(100) + 100)
-	createDT := fake.DateRange(time.Now().AddDate(0, -1, 0), time.Now())
-	sv := &structs.SecureVariableEncrypted{
-		SecureVariableMetadata: structs.SecureVariableMetadata{
-			Path:        path,
-			Namespace:   structs.DefaultNamespace,
-			CreateIndex: createIdx,
-			ModifyIndex: createIdx,
-			CreateTime:  createDT,
-			ModifyTime:  createDT,
-		},
+	return &structs.SecureVariableEncrypted{
+		SecureVariableMetadata: mockSecureVariableMetadata(),
 		SecureVariableData: structs.SecureVariableData{
 			KeyID: "foo",
 			Data:  []byte("foo"),
 		},
 	}
-	// Flip a coin to see if we should return a "modified" object
-	if fake.Bool() {
-		sv.ModifyTime = fake.DateRange(sv.CreateTime, time.Now())
-		sv.ModifyIndex = sv.CreateIndex + uint64(rand.Intn(100))
-	}
-	return sv
 }
 
 // SecureVariables returns a random number of secure variables between min
@@ -2456,3 +2415,26 @@ func (svs MockSecureVariablesEncrypted) List() []*structs.SecureVariableEncrypte
 	}
 	return out
 }
+
+func mockSecureVariableMetadata() structs.SecureVariableMetadata {
+	envs := []string{"dev", "test", "prod"}
+	envIdx := rand.Intn(3)
+	env := envs[envIdx]
+	domain := fake.DomainName()
+
+	out := structs.SecureVariableMetadata{
+		Namespace:   "default",
+		Path:        strings.ReplaceAll(env+"."+domain, ".", "/"),
+		CreateIndex: uint64(rand.Intn(100) + 100),
+		CreateTime:  fake.DateRange(time.Now().AddDate(0, -1, 0), time.Now()).UnixNano(),
+	}
+	out.ModifyIndex = out.CreateIndex
+	out.ModifyTime = out.CreateTime
+
+	// Flip a coin to see if we should return a "modified" object
+	if fake.Bool() {
+		out.ModifyTime = fake.DateRange(time.Unix(0, out.CreateTime), time.Now()).UnixNano()
+		out.ModifyIndex = out.CreateIndex + uint64(rand.Intn(100))
+	}
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/nomad/secure_variables_endpoint.go b/nomad/secure_variables_endpoint.go
index 7f42d9585..b7a9b09e6 100644
--- a/nomad/secure_variables_endpoint.go
+++ b/nomad/secure_variables_endpoint.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package nomad
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
@@ -65,6 +66,16 @@ func (sv *SecureVariables) Upsert(
 			mErr.Errors = append(mErr.Errors, err)
 			continue
 		}
+		if args.CheckIndex != nil {
+			var conflict *structs.SecureVariableDecrypted
+			if err := sv.validateCASUpdate(*args.CheckIndex, v, &conflict); err != nil {
+				if reply.Conflicts == nil {
+					reply.Conflicts = make([]*structs.SecureVariableDecrypted, len(args.Data))
+				}
+				reply.Conflicts[i] = conflict
+				continue
+			}
+		}
 		ev, err := sv.encrypt(v)
 		if err != nil {
 			mErr.Errors = append(mErr.Errors, err)
@@ -72,8 +83,14 @@ func (sv *SecureVariables) Upsert(
 		}
 		uArgs.Data[i] = ev
 	}
+	if len(reply.Conflicts) != 0 {
+		// This is a reply with CAS conflicts so it needs to return here
+		// "successfully". The caller needs to check to see if Conflicts
+		// is non-Nil.
+		return nil
+	}
 	if err := mErr.ErrorOrNil(); err != nil {
-		return err
+		return &mErr
 	}
 
 	if err := sv.enforceQuota(uArgs); err != nil {
@@ -116,7 +133,23 @@ func (sv *SecureVariables) Delete(
 			return structs.ErrPermissionDenied
 		}
 	}
+	if args.CheckIndex != nil {
 
+		if err := sv.validateCASDelete(*args.CheckIndex, args.Namespace, args.Path, &reply.Conflict); err != nil {
+
+			// If the validateCASDelete func sends back the conflict sentinel
+			// error value then it will have put the conflict into the reply,
+			// and we need to "succeed".
+			if err.Error() == "conflict" {
+				reply.Index = reply.Conflict.ModifyIndex
+				return nil
+			}
+
+			// There are a few cases where validateCASDelete can error that
+			// aren't conflicts.
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 	// Update via Raft.
 	out, index, err := sv.srv.raftApply(structs.SecureVariableDeleteRequestType, args)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -468,3 +501,53 @@ func (sv *SecureVariables) authValidatePrefix(claims *structs.IdentityClaims, ns
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (s *SecureVariables) validateCASUpdate(cidx uint64, sv *structs.SecureVariableDecrypted, conflict **structs.SecureVariableDecrypted) error {
+	return s.validateCAS(cidx, sv.Namespace, sv.Path, conflict)
+}
+
+func (s *SecureVariables) validateCASDelete(cidx uint64, namespace, path string, conflict **structs.SecureVariableDecrypted) error {
+	return s.validateCAS(cidx, namespace, path, conflict)
+}
+
+func (s *SecureVariables) validateCAS(cidx uint64, namespace, path string, conflictOut **structs.SecureVariableDecrypted) error {
+	casConflict := errors.New("conflict")
+	// lookup any existing key and validate the update
+	snap, err := s.srv.fsm.State().Snapshot()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	ws := memdb.NewWatchSet()
+	exist, err := snap.GetSecureVariable(ws, namespace, path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cas error: %w", err)
+	}
+	if exist == nil && cidx != 0 {
+		// return a zero value with the namespace and path applied
+		zeroVal := &structs.SecureVariableDecrypted{
+			SecureVariableMetadata: structs.SecureVariableMetadata{
+				Namespace:   namespace,
+				Path:        path,
+				CreateIndex: 0,
+				CreateTime:  0,
+				ModifyIndex: 0,
+				ModifyTime:  0,
+			},
+			Items: nil,
+		}
+		*conflictOut = zeroVal
+		return casConflict
+	}
+	if exist != nil && exist.ModifyIndex != cidx {
+		dec, err := s.decrypt(exist)
+		if err != nil {
+			// we can't return the conflict and we will have to bail out
+			decErrStr := fmt.Sprintf(". Additional error decrypting conflict: %s", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("cas error: requested index %v; found index %v%s", cidx, exist.ModifyIndex, decErrStr)
+		}
+		*conflictOut = dec
+		return casConflict
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/nomad/state/state_store_secure_variables.go b/nomad/state/state_store_secure_variables.go
index 3c7b808eb..d8285f0ee 100644
--- a/nomad/state/state_store_secure_variables.go
+++ b/nomad/state/state_store_secure_variables.go
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func (s *StateStore) upsertSecureVariableImpl(index uint64, txn *txn, sv *struct
 	}
 
 	// Setup the indexes correctly
-	now := time.Now().Round(0)
+	nowNano := time.Now().UnixNano()
 	if existing != nil {
 		exist := existing.(*structs.SecureVariableEncrypted)
 		if !shouldWrite(sv, exist) {
@@ -157,13 +157,13 @@ func (s *StateStore) upsertSecureVariableImpl(index uint64, txn *txn, sv *struct
 		sv.CreateIndex = exist.CreateIndex
 		sv.CreateTime = exist.CreateTime
 		sv.ModifyIndex = index
-		sv.ModifyTime = now
+		sv.ModifyTime = nowNano
 
 	} else {
 		sv.CreateIndex = index
-		sv.CreateTime = now
+		sv.CreateTime = nowNano
 		sv.ModifyIndex = index
-		sv.ModifyTime = now
+		sv.ModifyTime = nowNano
 	}
 
 	// Insert the secure variable
diff --git a/nomad/structs/secure_variables.go b/nomad/structs/secure_variables.go
index 126cc0d8f..9ea5fe816 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/secure_variables.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/secure_variables.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package structs
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
@@ -50,10 +51,10 @@ const (
 type SecureVariableMetadata struct {
 	Namespace   string
 	Path        string
-	CreateTime  time.Time
 	CreateIndex uint64
+	CreateTime  int64
 	ModifyIndex uint64
-	ModifyTime  time.Time
+	ModifyTime  int64
 }
 
 // SecureVariableEncrypted structs are returned from the Encrypter's encrypt
@@ -81,15 +82,55 @@ type SecureVariableDecrypted struct {
 // are always encrypted and decrypted as a single unit.
 type SecureVariableItems map[string]string
 
-func (sv SecureVariableData) Copy() SecureVariableData {
-	out := make([]byte, len(sv.Data))
-	copy(out, sv.Data)
-	return SecureVariableData{
-		Data:  out,
-		KeyID: sv.KeyID,
+// Equals checks both the metadata and items in a SecureVariableDecrypted
+// struct
+func (v1 SecureVariableDecrypted) Equals(v2 SecureVariableDecrypted) bool {
+	return v1.SecureVariableMetadata.Equals(v2.SecureVariableMetadata) &&
+		v1.Items.Equals(v2.Items)
+}
+
+// Equals is a convenience method to provide similar equality checking
+// syntax for metadata and the SecureVariablesData or SecureVariableItems
+// struct
+func (sv SecureVariableMetadata) Equals(sv2 SecureVariableMetadata) bool {
+	return sv == sv2
+}
+
+// Equals performs deep equality checking on the cleartext items
+// of a SecureVariableDecrypted. Uses reflect.DeepEqual
+func (i1 SecureVariableItems) Equals(i2 SecureVariableItems) bool {
+	return reflect.DeepEqual(i1, i2)
+}
+
+// Equals checks both the metadata and encrypted data for a
+// SecureVariableEncrypted struct
+func (v1 SecureVariableEncrypted) Equals(v2 SecureVariableEncrypted) bool {
+	return v1.SecureVariableMetadata.Equals(v2.SecureVariableMetadata) &&
+		v1.SecureVariableData.Equals(v2.SecureVariableData)
+}
+
+// Equals performs deep equality checking on the encrypted data part
+// of a SecureVariableEncrypted
+func (d1 SecureVariableData) Equals(d2 SecureVariableData) bool {
+	return d1.KeyID == d2.KeyID &&
+		bytes.Equal(d1.Data, d2.Data)
+}
+
+func (sv SecureVariableDecrypted) Copy() SecureVariableDecrypted {
+	return SecureVariableDecrypted{
+		SecureVariableMetadata: sv.SecureVariableMetadata,
+		Items:                  sv.Items.Copy(),
 	}
 }
 
+func (sv SecureVariableItems) Copy() SecureVariableItems {
+	out := make(SecureVariableItems, len(sv))
+	for k, v := range sv {
+		out[k] = v
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 func (sv SecureVariableEncrypted) Copy() SecureVariableEncrypted {
 	return SecureVariableEncrypted{
 		SecureVariableMetadata: sv.SecureVariableMetadata,
@@ -97,34 +138,13 @@ func (sv SecureVariableEncrypted) Copy() SecureVariableEncrypted {
 	}
 }
 
-func (sv SecureVariableMetadata) Equals(sv2 SecureVariableMetadata) bool {
-	return sv == sv2
-}
-
-func (sv SecureVariableDecrypted) Equals(sv2 SecureVariableDecrypted) bool {
-	// FIXME: This should be a smarter equality check
-	return sv.SecureVariableMetadata.Equals(sv2.SecureVariableMetadata) &&
-		len(sv.Items) == len(sv2.Items) &&
-		reflect.DeepEqual(sv.Items, sv2.Items)
-}
-
-func (sv SecureVariableDecrypted) Copy() SecureVariableDecrypted {
-	out := SecureVariableDecrypted{
-		SecureVariableMetadata: sv.SecureVariableMetadata,
-		Items:                  make(SecureVariableItems, len(sv.Items)),
+func (sv SecureVariableData) Copy() SecureVariableData {
+	out := make([]byte, len(sv.Data))
+	copy(out, sv.Data)
+	return SecureVariableData{
+		Data:  out,
+		KeyID: sv.KeyID,
 	}
-	for k, v := range sv.Items {
-		out.Items[k] = v
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-func (sv SecureVariableEncrypted) Equals(sv2 SecureVariableEncrypted) bool {
-	// FIXME: This should be a smarter equality check
-	return sv.SecureVariableMetadata.Equals(sv2.SecureVariableMetadata) &&
-		sv.KeyID == sv2.KeyID &&
-
-		reflect.DeepEqual(sv.SecureVariableData, sv2.SecureVariableData)
 }
 
 func (sv SecureVariableDecrypted) Validate() error {
@@ -140,6 +160,12 @@ func (sv *SecureVariableDecrypted) Canonicalize() {
 	}
 }
 
+// GetNamespace returns the secure variable's namespace. Used for pagination.
+func (sv *SecureVariableMetadata) Copy() *SecureVariableMetadata {
+	var out SecureVariableMetadata = *sv
+	return &out
+}
+
 // GetNamespace returns the secure variable's namespace. Used for pagination.
 func (sv SecureVariableMetadata) GetNamespace() string {
 	return sv.Namespace
@@ -176,21 +202,26 @@ func (svq *SecureVariablesQuota) Copy() *SecureVariablesQuota {
 }
 
 type SecureVariablesUpsertRequest struct {
-	Data []*SecureVariableDecrypted
+	Data       []*SecureVariableDecrypted
+	CheckIndex *uint64
 	WriteRequest
 }
 
+func (svur *SecureVariablesUpsertRequest) SetCheckIndex(ci uint64) {
+	svur.CheckIndex = &ci
+}
+
 type SecureVariablesEncryptedUpsertRequest struct {
 	Data []*SecureVariableEncrypted
 	WriteRequest
 }
 
 type SecureVariablesUpsertResponse struct {
+	Conflicts []*SecureVariableDecrypted
 	WriteMeta
 }
 
 type SecureVariablesListRequest struct {
-	// TODO: do we need any fields here?
 	QueryOptions
 }
 
@@ -210,11 +241,17 @@ type SecureVariablesReadResponse struct {
 }
 
 type SecureVariablesDeleteRequest struct {
-	Path string
+	Path       string
+	CheckIndex *uint64
 	WriteRequest
 }
 
+func (svdr *SecureVariablesDeleteRequest) SetCheckIndex(ci uint64) {
+	svdr.CheckIndex = &ci
+}
+
 type SecureVariablesDeleteResponse struct {
+	Conflict *SecureVariableDecrypted
 	WriteMeta
 }
 
diff --git a/nomad/structs/secure_variables_test.go b/nomad/structs/secure_variables_test.go
index 73e3fcd0e..02a1da2a9 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/secure_variables_test.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/secure_variables_test.go
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ func TestStructs_SecureVariableDecrypted_Copy(t *testing.T) {
 		Namespace:   "a",
 		Path:        "a/b/c",
 		CreateIndex: 1,
-		CreateTime:  n,
+		CreateTime:  n.UnixNano(),
 		ModifyIndex: 2,
-		ModifyTime:  n.Add(48 * time.Hour),
+		ModifyTime:  n.Add(48 * time.Hour).UnixNano(),
 	}
 	sv := SecureVariableDecrypted{
 		SecureVariableMetadata: a,