Last updated on 2024年9月25日

What are some of the best practices for managing and storing encryption keys?

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Encryption keys are essential for securing your data and communications, but they also pose some challenges. How do you generate, store, and manage them effectively? What are the risks and best practices for different types of keys? In this article, we will explore some of the basic concepts and tips for encryption key management.

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1 Symmetric vs asymmetric keys

Encryption keys can be classified into two main types: symmetric and asymmetric. Symmetric keys are used to encrypt and decrypt data with the same key, while asymmetric keys use a pair of keys: one public and one private. The public key can be shared with anyone, but the private key must be kept secret. Symmetric keys are faster and simpler, but they require a secure way to exchange them. Asymmetric keys are more secure and flexible, but they are slower and more complex. Depending on your use case, you may need to use one or both types of keys.

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Andrei Alexandru

Product Manager / Product Owner at Digital.ai
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Keys are just bytes or just a specific total number of 1s and 0s. Is how we use these bag of 1”s and 0s that makes a key symmetric or asymmetric. Their security depends on how we handle the individual bags. Who can peak into our bags and who we decide knowingly or unknowingly to share the contents. We chose to label some bags “secret ” because they are to stay secret just like your secret wishes. Normally only you or very few are privy of your secrets. All symmetrical are said to be secret. Asymmetrical keys however are more sly and more diverse. A asymmetrical private bag should be treated as your private parts. Only a few are privy to your privates. The other asymmetrical we call them “public” because anyone can use them bags.

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David Ryan Hawley - CISSP

SIEM/SOC Engineer, Tier IV SOC Analyst, DevSecOps Cloud Architect, linkedIn Board Advisories
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Being an AWS Solutions Architect I like AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS) is an encryption and key management service scaled for the cloud. AWS KMS keys and functionality are used by other AWS services, and you can use them to protect data in your own applications that use AWS. Also customer master key (where you use your own key) A customer master key (CMK) is a logical representation of a master key. The CMK includes metadata, such as the key ID, creation date, description, and key state. The CMK also contains the key material used to encrypt and decrypt data. AWS KMS supports symmetric and asymmetric CMKs.

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2 Key generation

The first step in encryption key management is to generate strong and random keys. Weak or predictable keys can compromise your security and make it easier for attackers to decrypt your data. To generate strong keys, you should use a reliable source of entropy, such as a cryptographic random number generator or a hardware device. You should also avoid reusing keys or deriving them from other keys or passwords. If you need to generate multiple keys, you should use a key derivation function (KDF) that produces unique and independent keys from a master key.

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Kailash Parshad

Ethical Hacker | Penetration Tester | Cybersecurity Enthusiast | YouTube Educator
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When generating encryption keys, it is essential to ensure that the process is based on strong, unpredictable entropy. I have found that using a hardware security module (HSM) or a trusted platform module (TPM) can significantly enhance key generation by providing a secure and tamper-resistant environment. For example, during a project for a financial institution, we integrated HSM-based key generation to ensure all keys were randomly generated and protected from unauthorized access. Additionally, we avoided deriving keys from predictable inputs, ensuring our encryption strategy was robust and resistant to brute-force attacks.

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3 Key storage

The next step in encryption key management is to store your keys securely. This means protecting them from unauthorized access, modification, or loss. You should encrypt your keys with another key or a passphrase, and store them in a separate location from your data. You should also backup your keys regularly and keep them offline or in a trusted cloud service. For asymmetric keys, you should store your private keys in a secure hardware device, such as a smart card or a USB token, and use a pin or a biometric authentication to access them.

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4 Key rotation

The third step in encryption key management is to rotate your keys periodically. This means replacing your old keys with new ones, and updating your data and systems accordingly. Key rotation reduces the risk of key compromise, limits the amount of data exposed by a single key, and complies with security standards and regulations. The frequency and method of key rotation depend on your security requirements, the type of key, and the amount of data. For symmetric keys, you should rotate them every few months or after a certain number of transactions. For asymmetric keys, you should rotate them every few years or after a major event, such as a breach or a change of personnel.

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Kailash Parshad

Ethical Hacker | Penetration Tester | Cybersecurity Enthusiast | YouTube Educator
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Key rotation is vital for minimizing the risk of long-term key exposure. In my experience, automating the key rotation process is one of the best ways to ensure that it occurs at regular intervals without manual intervention. While working with an e-commerce platform, we implemented automated key rotation policies through a centralized key management service (KMS). This ensured that symmetric keys were rotated every six months and asymmetric keys every two years. Automating this process reduced the chances of human error and ensured continuous compliance with industry security standards.

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5 Key revocation

The fourth step in encryption key management is to revoke your keys when they are no longer needed or valid. This means disabling or deleting your keys, and preventing them from being used to encrypt or decrypt data. Key revocation is necessary when your keys are compromised, expired, or replaced by new ones. You should have a clear policy and procedure for key revocation, and communicate it to your users and partners. You should also monitor your keys for any signs of misuse or anomaly, and revoke them immediately if you detect any.

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6 Key audit

The final step in encryption key management is to audit your keys regularly. This means reviewing and verifying your keys, their usage, and their status. Key audit helps you to ensure that your keys are secure, compliant, and effective. You should keep a record of your keys, their attributes, and their history, and use a tool or a service to track and report on them. You should also perform a risk assessment and a quality check on your keys, and identify and resolve any issues or gaps.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Kailash Parshad

Ethical Hacker | Penetration Tester | Cybersecurity Enthusiast | YouTube Educator
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Another important consideration for encryption key management is key access control. While working with a healthcare provider, we implemented strict role-based access control (RBAC) to limit who could access and manage keys. Only authorized personnel had the ability to handle keys, and all access attempts were logged and audited. This approach helped minimize insider threats and ensured accountability. Additionally, we combined this with multi-factor authentication (MFA) to further secure the process of accessing encryption keys, especially when dealing with sensitive patient data.

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What are some of the best practices for managing and storing encryption keys?

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1 Symmetric vs asymmetric keys

2 Key generation

3 Key storage

4 Key rotation

5 Key revocation

6 Key audit

7 Here’s what else to consider

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