The Next Generation

HSM approach delivers unparalleled cost/benefit for organizations

Hardware Security Modules, or HSMs, protect against insider and external threats by delivering confidentiality for encryption keys in a physically hardened appliance. They were initially developed by the military for the military, then were first leveraged commercially in the financial services sector. Now HSMs can be seen in a variety of applications ranging from PKI to code signing to databases.

Despite their strong security benefits, HSMs designed with older generation technology present significant hurdles to adoption. First, they are built using proprietary hardware that has a high initial acquisition cost. Second, they bring significant complexity and cost of operations. In many cases, the personnel costs to manage and operate these HSMs greatly exceed the appliance cost. The total cost and complexity prove to be prohibitive for many organizations, leading to critical gaps in encryption key management for data protection.

However, newer technologies are available today which can enable organizations to reassess their cost/benefit analysis and implement stronger security controls with low initial investment. Organizations are finding that next-generation HSM and Key Management capabilities offered as a subscription-based approach deliver powerful data protection and TCO benefits.

In the past, organizations had only the CAPEX model to purchase HSMs. The hardware typically cost at least $20,000 to deploy, $40,000 for high availability, and multiple times more for a typical enterprise deployment. Most cases required additional components and costs for such features as client-side connectors, partitions, KMIP support, Elliptical Curve algorithms, master key export, remote administration, and maintenance. Added up, deployment costs for real-world use cases often started at $250,000. This cost scenario left most organizations unable to leverage the power of HSMs and open to data breaches and insider attacks.

Next-generation HSMs today offer a subscription, or OPEX, model with flat, predictable pricing and a low barrier of entry, providing an attractive cost/benefit scenario that is attainable for most organizations. The leading appliances use commercial offthe- shelf (COTS) servers hardened for NIST FIPS 140-2 level-3, significantly reducing the initial acquisition cost. A HSM-as-aservice (HSMaaS) subscription software license combined with an all-inclusive model offers predictable pricing for current and future use cases. Additionally, those next-generation HSMs following a software-defined design can even accommodate organizations that prefer to use their own servers for cost or supply chain efficiency purposes.

The CAPEX model bundles software and hardware together and often leads to paying for the software several times.

For example, if an organization, after a few years, needs to upgrade their hardware due to growing demands, they must purchase another hardware and software bundle, effectively duplicating their software payment. Next-generation HSMs’ approach enables organizations to purchase new servers or appliances and transfer the software licenses over, thereby lowering long-term acquisition costs. The OPEX model gives organizations the flexibility to more frequently upgrade to the latest Intel x86 processor, as an example. A higher performance processor means they can do more with less, which lowers overall costs.

HSMs today should be secure, cost-effective, intuitive, and easy to use. They should:

  • Support all NSA Suite B algorithms.
  • Securely generate, manage, and rotate keys; encrypt, hash, and sign.
  • Support all common APIs (including RESTful APIs, KMIP, and traditional cryptographic interfaces) on the same platform.
  • Support multi-tenancy (the ability to securely manage multiple users/customers/departments on the same hardware/software).
  • Provide true separation of duties (ability to manage firmware/ software updates without having access to application keys).
  • Provide secure audit logs that integrate with SIEM tools such as Splunk, and offer configurable alerts.
  • Deliver built-in high availability and load balancing without costly external appliances.

Legacy HSMs require professional services and a weeklong class to get trained on deploying the solution. Additional “soft costs” associated with these deployments can be significant as well. Legacy HSMs have to be offline for firmware/software updates, which means unproductive downtime and admins required to travel worldwide to make administrative changes to data centers. Because they are so difficult to manage, few within a company understand how they work, requiring additional training classes. With next-generation HSMs, there is no downtime during software updates, and centralized remote key management software does not require admins to fly around the globe.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • 12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    Understanding crime statistics in your industry and area is crucial for making important decisions about your security budget. With so much information out there, how can you know which statistics to trust? Read Now

  • Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    In alignment with the state of Mississippi’s mission of “Empowering Mississippi citizens to stay connected and engaged with their government,” Salient's CompleteView VMS is being installed throughout more than 150 state boards, commissions and agencies in order to ensure safety for thousands of constituents who access state services daily. Read Now

  • Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    This year’s Live From GSX program was a rousing success! Again, we’d like to thank our partners, and IPVideo, for working with us and letting us broadcast their solutions to the industry. You can follow our Live From GSX 2023 page to keep up with post-show developments and announcements. And if you’re interested in working with us in 2024, please don’t hesitate to ask about our Live From programs for ISC West in March or next year’s GSX. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • People Say the Funniest Things

    People Say the Funniest Things

    By all accounts, GSX version 2023 was completely successful. Apparently, there were plenty of mix-ups with the airlines and getting aircraft from the East Coast into Big D. I am all ears when I am in a gathering of people. You never know when a nugget of information might flip out. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3