Cryptographic Key Management in PAM

Safely manage cryptographic keys used for encryption and decryption.

Meet compliance requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, FIPS, and more.

Restrict access and track usage of keys with fine-grained controls.

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What is Cryptographic Key Management in miniOrange PAM?

Cryptographic key management in PAM involves techniques and processes to create, store, distribute, rotate, and retire cryptographic keys, to protect privileged credentials from being accessed within an organization. miniOrange makes use of both AES 256 and AES 128, global encryption standards to secure the user data.

In simpler terms, it’s like having a digital vault that protects the secret codes used to lock and unlock your sensitive data.

How Cryptographic Key Management Works

Cryptographic key management in PAM is a structured process, where only authorized users can access and use confidential data.

Here’s a comprehensive explanation on its working:

Generate and Store: Create strong encryption keys and store them in a secure, tamper-proof vault. This vault is managed by the PAM solution, and may use Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) for added protection.
Access Control: Tight security restricts access to the keys. Only those users with the appropriate permissions and roles can use or retrieve specific keys. This is mainly enforced through policies, and strong MFA techniques are used to verify users before they can use any cryptographic keys.
Use and Integrate: If a user wishes to retrieve critical data such as passwords, confidential files, or credentials, the PAM security solution utilizes keys to encrypt or decrypt the data. Integration with databases, apps, and other IT systems maintains consistent encryption.
Rotate and Audit: Auto-rotate keys at regular intervals or when security is compromised. This reduces the risk for long-term key exposure, and meets regulatory compliance. Conduct audits to detect suspicious activities and track usage.

Top-Notch Security Features

Secure Key Vault

This is a centralized vault to securely store encryption keys with hardware security modules (HSMs) or encrypted databases, secrets, and certificates. HSM doesn't allow the keys to leave the system unencrypted, thereby preventing theft or tampering.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Permission to use the keys depends on roles, with granular access control, so only authorized users can access or manage specific keys, thus preventing unprivileged access to applications and databases.

Automated Key Rotation

The cryptographic keys are auto-replaced on a stringent schedule or triggered by strict policies. Short life span of keys prevents compromises and maintains a solid encryption hygiene. Automation password rotation also eliminates human errors and takes care of compliance protocols.

Detailed Usage Logs

Events for every key usage and access are logged in detail, including who used each key, when, and for what purpose. These logs offer an in-depth audit trail, which can be later used to spot any kind of compromising situations.

Key Revocation and Expiry

Instantly revoke or expire keys if compromised or no longer needed. Revocation blocks further usage of the keys, averting unwanted access.

Integration with PAM Workflows

Cryptographic keys are consolidated within PAM workflows such as session management, password vaults, and apps. This keeps the keys hidden from users while accessing PAM workflows.

Benefits of Cryptographic Key Management in PAM

Data Protection

Cryptographic key management in PAM encrypts sensitive information like credentials, logs, and session data, making the data unreadable to suspicious users.

Compliance Readiness

PAM with key management easily meets requirements for GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and more, by simply enforcing access policies, automating key rotation, and maintaining audit logs.

Seamless Integration

Modern PAM solutions are developed to integrate keys with the existing IT infrastructure, apps, and automation tools. This enables safe workflows on cloud, on-premise, and hybrid architectures.

Frequently Asked Questions

More FAQs

Is it possible to automatically rotate or expire keys?

Is the cryptographic key management product compliant with main regulations?

What’s the difference between symmetric and asymmetric keys?

Which type of key is used in the miniOrange cryptographic key management product?

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Cryptographic Key Management in PAM

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