How do you manage keys in the cloud?

1 Key management lifecycle

The key management lifecycle consists of four phases: generation, storage, usage, and destruction. Each phase requires careful planning and implementation to ensure the security and availability of the keys. For example, when generating keys, you should use strong algorithms and random sources, and avoid reusing keys for different purposes. When storing keys, you should use secure and encrypted locations, such as hardware security modules (HSMs) or key management services (KMSs), and apply access controls and encryption policies. When using keys, you should minimize their exposure and transmission, and use secure protocols and mechanisms, such as HTTPS, TLS, or SSH. When destroying keys, you should follow the best practices for erasing and overwriting data, and comply with the retention and disposal policies.

2 Key management challenges

One of the main challenges of managing keys in the cloud is maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the keys, especially when they are shared or distributed across multiple cloud services or regions. This requires implementing strong encryption and authentication methods, as well as monitoring and logging the key activities. Another challenge is ensuring the availability and resilience of the keys, especially in case of disasters or outages. This requires implementing backup and recovery strategies, as well as scaling and load balancing the key services. A third challenge is complying with the regulatory and legal requirements, such as GDPR, PCI DSS, or HIPAA, that may affect the key management processes. This requires understanding the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the cloud providers, as well as the data protection and privacy laws of the countries where the keys are stored or used.

3 Key management solutions

To address these challenges, cloud providers offer various solutions for managing keys in the cloud, such as HSMs, KMSs, or cloud encryption services. HSMs are physical devices that store and process keys in a secure and isolated environment, and provide high performance and tamper resistance. KMSs are software-based services that store and manage keys in a centralized and scalable manner, and provide features such as key rotation, versioning, and auditing. Cloud encryption services are services that encrypt and decrypt data on the fly, using keys that are either generated by the service or provided by the user. These solutions can help you simplify and automate the key management lifecycle, as well as integrate with other cloud services and applications.

4 Key management best practices

To maximize the use of these solutions, you should adhere to key management best practices. These include defining and documenting policies and procedures around key access, rotation, and backup/destruction, as well as classifying and labeling keys according to their sensitivity and purpose. It is also important to use different keys for different cloud services or regions, and avoid storing or transmitting keys in plain text or unsecured locations. Furthermore, you should monitor and audit your key activities and events, such as key creation, deletion, or usage. Lastly, review and update your key management policies regularly, and conduct periodic audits/assessments to guarantee compliance and effectiveness.

5 Key management resources

To learn more about managing keys in the cloud, you can refer to some of the key management resources such as the NIST Special Publication 800-57 Part 1 for recommendations and guidelines, the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Key Management Working Group for research and guidance, AWS Key Management Service (KMS), Azure Key Vault, and Google Cloud Key Management Service (KMS). The AWS KMS is a fully managed service that enables you to create and control encryption keys used to encrypt data in AWS. Azure Key Vault is a service that safeguards and manages cryptographic keys and secrets used by cloud applications and services in Azure. Google Cloud KMS is a service that allows you to manage encryption keys for your cloud services in Google Cloud.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?