Organizations need a high level of security for their sensitive data and crucial keys that, more than ever, protect their sensitive data today. Data security strategy is becoming essential for any organization with a high increase in cybercrime. Hardware Security Modules are crucial to this process since the lifecycle of cryptographic keys necessitates a high level of management. Therefore, automating critical lifecycle management is the best option for most businesses.
A secure, dedicated, strong, and tamper-resistant environment provided by hardware security modules helps to safeguard cryptographic data and keys and automates the lifespan of all cryptographic keys. But what is Hardware Security Module, and what is its purpose? Let’s explore this in depth.
What is a Hardware Security Module (HSM)?
This very reliable and specialized tool aids in crucial cryptographic activities like encryption, decryption, key management, authentication, and key exchange, among others. You can also use HSM as a Service. Further, HSM can be defined as well-designed security devices that hide and protect cryptographic materials.
HSM features a robust operating system and limited network access that is firewall-protected. Moreover, they are tamper-resistant and temper-evident devices. The fact that the HSM has carefully limited access and cannot be compromised in any way is one of the key factors contributing to its high level of security.
Due to such reasons and many more, HSM is considered the crucial and trustworthy robot for most organizations, commonly known as “The Robot of Trust.” A robot of trust can be defined as a foundation in a reliable cryptographic system at any time.
An HSM might be the appropriate Robot of Trust for any company’s security infrastructure due to the tight and robust security methods utilized inside it. Moreover, hardware security modules assist with creating, rotating, and safeguarding keys. It’s important to remember that the HSM creates keys at random. Unlike a standard computer, which cannot generate random keys, it incorporates a component of the hardware that enables the computer to do so.
To guard against potential breaches, HSM is typically kept off the company’s computer network. This means that for any hacker to access the protected data, the HSM must be physically accessible.
Types of Hardware Security Modules
We have two major types of HSM;
1. General Purpose
Generic Purpose The most widely used encryption techniques, including CAPI, PKCS#11, and CNG, among many others, are frequently utilized by HSM when dealing with crypto wallets, PKIs, and other types of fundamentally critical data.
2. Payment and Transaction
This form of HSM was created to protect payment card data and other crucial transaction information. The types of organizations that can utilize this HSM are limited. However, they are perfect for assisting businesses in adhering to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS).
Compliance
Since HSM is crucial for data security, several regulations and standards have been established to protect sensitive data appropriately. These regulations include;
1. The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2
This standard tries to validate the impact and effectiveness of the hardware carrying out cryptographic activities. Both private and public sectors have put an effort to adopt FIPS 140-2. It has four main levels that you should know;
Level 1: this is the lowest level, which focuses making sure the gadget has the necessary security measures, such as cryptographic algorithms. At this level, a general-purpose model that supports all operating systems is usable. However, the specifications at this level are quite constrained and only include the bare minimum necessary to guarantee the requisite security of sensitive data.
Level 2: By incorporating a tamper-evident device, an operating system, and role-based authentication, this level enhances the first level.
Level 3: this level needs level 2 requirements, tamper-response, tamper resistance, and identity-based authentication, among other things. Only private keys in encrypted form can be exported or imported at this level. Further, it’s the most sought-after compliance level since it aids in strengthening the device and is less strict than level 4.
Level 4: This is the FIPS level that has the most restrictions. For all items working physically in an exposed and unprotected environment, advanced protective hardware is designed here.
2. Common Criteria (ISO/IEC 15408)
This is a certification regulation for all IT products and systems security. Common Criteria is also standard among all sectors, both private and public. Like FIPS, it’s also divided into levels, that’s is seven levels. The first level is the lowest level of security, while level 7 is the highest.
3. Payment Card Industry PTS HSM
This is the final regulation for HSM compliance. This deeper standard focuses more on the shipment, management, usage, creation, and destruction of HSMs used in all critical and sensitive financial transactions and data.
Benefits of Hardware Security Modules
- Implementing security regulations and standards
- Improved level of authentication and trust
- Highly secure physical systems through tamper-resistance, tamper-proof, and tamper-evident.
- Providing the required security of susceptible cryptographic keys and data for the organization.
- Efficient and easy in automating lifecycle activities for all critical cryptographic keys.
- All the cryptographic keys are stored together rather than in different locations, guaranteeing high security.
Summing Up
Having reliable security for your sensitive data is very important. The hardware security module is a boost in ensuring essential cryptographic keys are secure and all sensitive data can’t be accessed or breached. The various features of HSM, such as tamper-proof, tamper-resistance, and tamper-evident, allow it to be more effective and efficient in protecting data. You have all the good reasons to consider investing in the hardware security module.
