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HSM-as-a-Service Use Cases, Considerations, and Best Practices
HSM-as-a-Service Use Cases, Considerations, and Best Practices
Who it's for:
  • Cloud service customers
  • Cloud service providers 
  • HSM manufacturers 
  • Key management solution providers 
  • Application developers
  • Auditors

HSM-as-a-Service Use Cases, Considerations, and Best Practices

Release Date: 04/03/2024

Working Group: Cloud Key Management

A Hardware Security Module (HSM) is a certified, trusted platform for performing cryptographic operations and protecting keys. It is a tamper-responsive and intrusion-resistant device comprising a security cryptographic accelerator, hardware-based random number generator,  processor, RAM, storage, and external interface. HSMs are often considered the root of trust, as the cryptographic keys created and protected by an HSM are used to underpin the security of an organization’s infrastructure.

This document describes the Hardware Security Module as a Service (HSMaaS) cloud delivery model for key management and cryptographic operations. Additionally, it explores a sample of use cases with unique drivers justifying this model, discusses logical and physical security considerations, and provides recommendations on how to demonstrate compliance and select a vendor. 

Cloud service customers that require increased control over key management operations, providers that supply the technology or services to deliver HSMaaS, as well as auditors and Conformity Assessment Bodies, can all benefit from the knowledge in this comprehensive guide.

Key Takeaways: 
  • The definition and architecture of an HSM
  • The current and future state of the HSMaaS market
  • Industry, compliance, and risk use cases for the HSMaaS model
  • The importance of clearly defined responsibilities in the HSMaaS model
  • Security considerations for HSMs
  • Key management considerations unique to HSMaaS
  • Important considerations when setting up governance for HSMs
  • HSM vendor selection best practices
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Acknowledgements

Sam Pfanstiel Ph.D.
Sam Pfanstiel Ph.D.
Principal, Technical Compliance, PCI

Sam Pfanstiel Ph.D.

Principal, Technical Compliance, PCI

As Principal Analyst at Toast, Sam is responsible for heading the Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance programs for this cloud-based fintech company. Over the past 27 years, Sam has held key roles in security, technology, and management, and developed expertise in multiple disciplines, including payments, PCI compliance, fraud, cloud service delivery, application development, mobile technology, infrastructure, and cryptography. This dive...

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Sunil Arora
Sunil Arora
Cybersecurity Leader, Researcher, Speaker, and Author

Sunil Arora

Cybersecurity Leader, Researcher, Speaker, and Author

Sunil Arora is a cybersecurity researcher and expert with over 18 years of work experience in the finance, healthcare, telecom, and technology services industries. Sunil has a distinguished record of accomplishments in assisting businesses and technology teams in protecting infrastructure, applications, cloud environments, and risk management. Sunil is a passionate cybersecurity advocate and an expert on cloud security, information security...

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Iain Beveridge
Iain Beveridge
Senior Product Marketing Manager

Iain Beveridge

Senior Product Marketing Manager

Santosh Bompally Headshot Missing
Santosh Bompally

Santosh Bompally

Marina Bregkou
Marina Bregkou
Senior Research Analyst, CSA EMEA

Marina Bregkou

Senior Research Analyst, CSA EMEA

Parthasarathi Chakraborty
Parthasarathi Chakraborty
Associate VP, Cloud Security, Cyber Innovation and R&D

Parthasarathi Chakraborty

Associate VP, Cloud Security, Cyber Innovation and R&D

Partha has over 20 years of cyber security leadership experience in the financial services and healthcare industry. An active speaker and panelist in major cyber security conferences around the world, and frequently called in for views and interviews in electronic media like The Economist, UK. Very much passionate about learning new technologies and writing on recent groundbreaking cyber trends. He is also the founder of Cloud Security Pra...

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Rajat Dubey
Rajat Dubey
Cybersecurity Expert, Allianz Commercial

Rajat Dubey

Cybersecurity Expert, Allianz Commercial

Rajat is an accomplished cybersecurity expert with over 13 years of experience safeguarding critical systems and data for global enterprises. His expertise spans cyber risk assessment, compliance, threat modeling, incident response, Penetration testing, Ethical hacking, Digital Forensic, Cloud Security and emerging technologies (AI, Blockchain, IoT, Quantum computing) for enhanced security.

Read more

Parth Jamodkar Headshot Missing
Parth Jamodkar

Parth Jamodkar

Carlos Rombaldo Jr. Headshot Missing
Carlos Rombaldo Jr.

Carlos Rombaldo Jr.

Michael Roza
Michael Roza
Risk, Audit, Control and Compliance Professional at EVC

Michael Roza

Risk, Audit, Control and Compliance Professional at EVC

Since 2012, Michael Roza has been a pivotal member of the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) family. He has contributed to over 125 projects, as a Lead Author or Author/Contributor and many more as a Reviewer/Editor.

Michael's extensive contributions encompass critical areas including Artificial Intelligence, Zero Trust/Software Defined Perimeter, Internet of Things, Top Threats, Cloud Control Matrix, DevSecOps, and Key Management. His lea...

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Thanos Vrachnos
Thanos Vrachnos
Cyber Security Consultant at SpearIT

Thanos Vrachnos

Cyber Security Consultant at SpearIT

Amanda Gabiam Headshot Missing
Amanda Gabiam

Amanda Gabiam

Simon Keates Headshot Missing
Simon Keates

Simon Keates

Bruno Kovacs Headshot Missing
Bruno Kovacs

Bruno Kovacs

Smita Mahapatra Headshot Missing
Smita Mahapatra

Smita Mahapatra

Tim Winston Headshot Missing
Tim Winston

Tim Winston

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