Blog: Improve Cloud Security Management with a Cloud-Based HSM

When we talk to companies around the world, a common topic of discussion is the transformational nature of cloud technologies. In a very short time, the cloud has disrupted every aspect of how IT infrastructure, resources and software are deployed and managed. While there’s near-universal agreement on the economic benefits of this, it’s not all good news: In these discussions, the conversation invariably turns toward the growing challenges of cloud security management—in particular, the management of the encryption keys that are fundamental to cloud security.

Cloud security management is top-of-mind for any enterprise charged with handling personally identifiable information (PII). These data are subject to numerous industry and government regulations such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and data sovereignty requirements. Many of these regulations broaden the definition of PII  and place additional requirements on the capture and use of personal data. As an ever-increasing amount of data is identified as PII, and as an ever-increasing amount of PII is stored in the cloud, the risk of a damaging data breach grows.

Encryption key management: complex in multicloud environments

Cloud providers have already incorporated security measures into their platforms and services. In many ways, cloud storage may be considered safer than on-premises data centers. However, only a small minority of enterprises work with a single cloud provider: According to the RightScale State of the Cloud Report™, the vast majority of enterprise work with multiple cloud providers to support their private, public or hybrid cloud environments. In contrast to the convenience of software deployment and scalability provided by the cloud, managing encryption keys across multiple cloud platforms is inherently complex. The reasons for this include the following:

• Each cloud provider offers its own solution for encryption key management.
• Encryption key management tools vary by provider.
• The level of encryption key security varies among providers.

This complexity, coupled with a shortage of skilled security personnel, leads many enterprises to look for methods that allow them to centrally and securely manage encryption keys. You might think of this as a search for a cloud-neutral approach to encryption key management.

HSM as a Service simplifies encryption key management in multicloud environments

For encryption key management in multicloud environments, consider the benefits of HSM as a Service, which is designed to address these critical needs:

• Security: The level of security provided by HSM as a Service is equivalent to on-prem HSM solutions, but with the ease of use of cloud services.
• Scalability: HSM as a Service quickly and easily scales to meet local and global growth.
• Centralized: HSM as a Service gives users a single point of management regardless of the cloud provider or providers.
• Lifecycle management: Users control key creation, distribution, rotation, refreshment and retirement. HSM as a Service also supports Bring Your Own Key (BYOK).
• Multicloud: HSM as a Service provides support for encryption key management in AWS, Google, Azure, IBM, Oracle, SalesForce and others in private, hybrid and public cloud environments.
• Compliance: HSM as a Service features enterprise-level access controls and audit logging.

HSM as a Service provides unique features and functionality designed for ease of use, greater cloud security management and application development and integration:

Read the entire blog post on the Interconnections Blog >