Digital security begins with hardware security modules

The hardware security module is a physical computing device that safeguards and manages digital keys, performs encryption and decryption functions for digital signatures, strong authentication and other cryptographic functions that are essential to protect your data, customers, and business. These modules traditionally come in the form of a plug-in card or an external device that attaches directly to a computer or network server.

A hardware security module contains one or more secure cryptoprocessor chips. HSMs are used to protect sensitive data and applications, digital payments, web browsing, and cloud services, but most people don’t know why they should use an HSM.

HSMs are used for real time authorization and authentication in critical infrastructure thus are typically engineered to support standard high availability models including clustering, automated failover, and redundant field-replaceable components.

HSMs may have features that provide tamper evidence such as visible signs of tampering or logging and alerting, or tamper resistance which makes tampering difficult without making the HSM inoperable, or tamper responsiveness such as deleting keys upon tamper detection. Each module contains one or more secure cryptoprocessor chips to prevent tampering and bus probing, or a combination of chips in a module that is protected by the tamper evident, tamper resistant, or tamper responsive packaging.

The demand for hardware security modules is booming and the HSM market is expected to reach $2.75 billion by the end of 2026. As there is an increase in cybercrimes, many corporates are adopting HSM as a service or Cloud HSM, which is a subscription-based offering where customers can use a hardware security module in the cloud to generate, access, and protect their cryptographic key material, separately from sensitive data. The service offering typically provides the same level of protection as an on-premises deployment, while enabling more flexibility.

Customers can transfer CapEx to OpEx, enabling them to only pay for the services they need, when they need them. A report says that cryptographic operations like encryption and digital signing are worthless if the private keys they use are not well protected.

Today, attackers have grown much more sophisticated in their ability to locate private keys that are stored or are in use. HSMs are the gold standard for protection of private keys and associated cryptographic operations, and enforce the policy defined by the using organization for users and applications that can access those keys. HSMs can be used with many different types of applications that perform encryption or digital signing. It enables your employees to use your organization’s private keys without needing direct access to them.