Enterprise Key Management Plan: Ways to Manage Encryption Key Challenges

How to Plan & Manage your Encryption Keys

Enterprise Key Management Plan

Managing encryption keys has become increasingly complex for organizations as they maintain a balance between data security and accessibility. Many have realized the inherent challenges in entrusting cloud providers with the responsibility of key management. Giving access to data infrastructure puts sensitive information at risk of being compromised or accessed without the organization’s direct consent.

As data breaches and cyber threats continue to escalate, organizations are awakening to the critical need for complete control of their encryption keys. This includes implementing centralized key management solutions that offer heightened security and the agility to adapt to evolving encryption standards and regulatory requirements.

Here’s a brief plan for managing encryption keys in an enterprise.

What is Enterprise Key Management?

Enterprise Key Management (EKM) supervises cryptographic keys to encrypt/decrypt data in an organization’s various platforms, applications, and devices. EKM assures confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of sensitive information.

An Enterprise Key Management Plan (EKMP) is a strategy framework that handles the entire cryptographic key lifecycle, including key generation, distribution, storage, rotation, and disposal.

Why is Enterprise Key Management Important?

• Control: Cloud service providers offer various security measures, but organizations must retain control over their data. EKM enables organizations to manage encryption keys independently. This means the cloud vendor cannot access the data even if this is demanded by a legal order.
• Compliance: Regulations like GDPR and HIPAA mandate strong encryption practices. The regulatory bodies will not hold cloud vendors responsible for compliance gaps. EKM ensures that encryption keys are properly managed and protected, consistent policies control the data access, and detailed reporting simplifies audits and legal issues.
• Convenience: With centralized key management, organizations can efficiently supervise key generation, distribution, and rotation, reducing the risk of errors or oversights. EKM provides user-friendly interfaces and automation options. This convenience improves operational efficiency and ensures encryption policy consistency across different verticals.

Challenges in Enterprise Key Management

1. Key Generation — Inadequate randomization during key generation can result in weak or predictable keys, compromising security.
2. Key Distribution — Improper key distribution mechanisms can lead to unauthorized access or data breaches during transmission.
3. Key Rotation — Neglecting timely key rotation can leave systems vulnerable to attacks targeting outdated keys.
4. Key Storage — Insecure key storage practices may expose keys to unauthorized access or loss through data breaches.
5. Key Revocation — Failing to revoke compromised or outdated keys promptly can lead to ongoing security risks.
6. Scalability — Inefficient scalability planning may affect key management as the organization grows, risking operational disruptions.
7. Auditability — Inadequate auditing and monitoring complicate detecting and responding to security incidents or compliance violations, slowing down the audit.

Here’s How an Enterprise Key Management Plan (EKMP) addresses each of the key management challenges:

1. Key Generation
   Specific Algorithms: The EKMP specifies using the latest and most robust algorithms for key generation.
   Entropy Guidelines: Instructs operators to seed key generation processes using trusted and unpredictable sources.
2. Key Distribution
   Secure Protocols: The EKMP prescribes secure communication protocols like TLS/SSL or IPsec, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
   Access Control Policies: Govern who can distribute and receive keys, minimizing the chances of key misuse [source].
3. Key Rotation
   Policy Framework: The EKMP defines when and how keys should be rotated to ensure minimal risk.
   Automation Guidelines: Automating key rotation reduces the likelihood of human error and ensures no delays.
4. Key Storage
   Hardware Security Modules (HSM): The EKMP mandates using HSMs, which are tamper-resistant hardware devices.
   Backup and Recovery: These procedures ensure key availability and integrity in case of hardware failures or disruptions.
5. Key Revocation
   Revocation Procedures: This is an all-vetted action plan outlining steps and authorized users for revoking keys in case of compromise.
   Notification Protocols: The EKMP ensures setting up alerts when a key is revoked, signalling that compromised keys must be promptly replaced.
6. Scalability
   Scalable Architecture: The EKMP recommends deploying a scalable key management solution, allowing the organization to expand its key management infrastructure as needed without slowing the business.
7. Auditability
   Logging and Monitoring: The EKMP ensures comprehensive visibility into key management activities by tracking all the events.
   Regular Audits: The EKMP demands strict audits and assessments of key management processes, and immutable logging. It helps detect vulnerabilities and avoid compliance violations.

Conclusion

Organizations that rely on cloud-native encryption do not get complete control of key management as cloud providers generate and own the data encryption keys. Fortanix offers centralized key management, consistent access control policy, and tamper-proof audit logs, allowing organizations to retain full control and management of encryption keys. With Bring Your Own Key Management Service (BYOKMS), organizations can store and protect keys outside the cloud and meet the most stringent compliance requirements.

Fortanix Key Management Solutions