AWS CloudHSM

How AWS CloudHSM works

We start by provisioning AWS CloudHSMs through the AWS Management Console, CLI, or API. We specify the number of CloudHSM devices we need and configure them according to our security and compliance requirements. Each AWS CloudHSM appliance is a dedicated physical device that houses cryptographic hardware, including processors, memory, and storage.

As part of this setup, we also create an HSM user. An HSM user is different from an IAM user and is managed separately. These users are of different types, which determines the kind of operations an HSM user can perform. The resources within the HSM cluster are managed and accessed using the credentials of these HSM users.

Using these users, we then create, store, and manage our cryptographic keys within the HSM cluster. Using these keys, we can then perform encryption, decryption, digital signing, and verification. We can also integrate AWS HSMs with other AWS services, such as AWS Key Management Service (KMS) and AWS CloudHSM. We can use this integration to encrypt data stored in Amazon S3, Amazon RDS, and other AWS resources, ensuring the security of our data at rest and in transit.

CloudHSM use cases

Here are some operations that we can perform using the CloudHSM:

Features of CloudHSM keys

Here are some features of CloudHSM keys:

• Key types and algorithms: AWS CloudHSM provides various key types and algorithms to cater to different encryption requirements. These keys can be symmetric or asymmetric and support a range of key sizes, allowing us to customize our encryption solutions based on our specific needs.

• Cryptographic functions: With AWS CloudHSM, we can perform a variety of cryptographic tasks using our keys. This includes data signing and signature verification using both symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms, computing message digests with hash functions, generating hash-based message authentication codes (HMACs), and wrapping and protecting other keys.

• Key management: Keys in AWS CloudHSM are managed through software development kits (SDKs) and command-line tools, providing us with flexibility and control over key lifecycle management. We can create, import, export, and delete keys as needed, ensuring secure handling and storage of cryptographic keys.

• Ownership and sharing: In AWS CloudHSM, the crypto user (CU) who creates a key is its owner. The owner has the authority to share the key with other CUs using the key share and key unshare commands. This ownership model enables granular control over key access and usage within our organization.

• Attribute-based encryption: AWS CloudHSM supports attribute-based encryption, allowing us to control access to encrypted data based on key attributes and policies. This form of encryption enables fine-grained access control, ensuring that only authorized users can decrypt sensitive information stored using CloudHSM keys.

Best practices

Here are some best practices we should follow while using CloudHSM:

• Implement high availability: Deploy CloudHSM clusters across multiple Availability Zones (AZs) to ensure high availability and fault tolerance. By distributing HSMs across different AZs, we can mitigate the impact of AZ-level failures and maintain service continuity.

• Regularly backup HSMs: Create and maintain regular backups of our CloudHSM instances to ensure data integrity and disaster recovery preparedness. AWS offers automated backup solutions for CloudHSM clusters, enabling easy restoration in case of data loss or corruption.

• Regularly update software: Keep our CloudHSM software up to date by applying patches and updates provided by AWS. Regular software updates help address security vulnerabilities, enhance performance, and ensure compatibility with the latest cryptographic standards.

• Regularly audit configuration: Conduct regular audits of our CloudHSM configuration to ensure compliance with security policies and industry regulations. Verify that encryption keys are managed securely, access controls are properly configured, and encryption practices align with best practices.