HSM Integration & KMS for Hybrid PKI (Azure, AWS, Google)

Vendor-neutral HSM, KMS, and Hybrid PKI consultancy. We integrate on-prem Root/Issuing CA HSMs with Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud KMS/HSMs underpinned by CP/CPS governance, crypto-agility, and FIPS 140-2 ,140-3 migration readiness.

Vendor-Neutral HSM & KMS Integration Services

  • Design & operate Hybrid PKI with on-prem HSMs chained to cloud issuing CAs.
  • Integrate Azure Key Vault / Managed HSM, AWS KMS / CloudHSM, and Google Cloud KMS / Cloud HSM.
  • Governance-first: CP/CPS updates, key ceremonies, audit evidence, separation of duties.
  • BYOK / HYOK / CMK patterns for customer-managed keys and regulatory mandates.

Cloud PKI Options & Platforms

Azure (Microsoft)

  • Microsoft Intune Cloud PKI (cloud-hosted Root/Issuing for device/workload certs).
  • Azure Key Vault Certificates (lifecycle & storage) + Managed HSM for CA private keys.
  • Azure Dedicated HSM (Thales) for single-tenant FIPS modules.
  • Partner CA in Azure: Keyfactor EJBCA, Entrust, DigiCert, Sectigo, Venafi/Jetstack automation.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) — public certs; ACM Private CA — private issuing CAs.
  • AWS KMS for CMK; AWS CloudHSM for dedicated HSM clusters and key custody.
  • Integrations: EKS, EC2, IoT Core, App Mesh mTLS; ACME/EST/SCEP via partners.

Google Cloud (GCP)

  • Google Cloud Certificate Authority Service (CAS) — Root/Issuing CAs.
  • Cloud KMS / Cloud HSM for key storage and FIPS 140 validation.
  • Integrations: GKE, Compute Engine, Anthos/Service Mesh; ACME/EST via CAS/partners.

On-Prem Governance & Policy Integrated with the Cloud

  • Root Key Generation (RKG) ceremonies, M-of-N, tamper-evident logs, offline roots.
  • Policy/Issuing CA split: on-prem for legacy templates; cloud issuing for modern workloads.
  • Key wrapping & transfer (BYOK): RSA-OAEP/AES-KWP, DKEK procedures, chain-of-custody.
  • CRL/OCSP design, AIA/CDP hygiene, revocation hooks into SIEM/SOAR.

Crypto Agility & FIPS 140-2 , FIPS 140-3 Migration

  • Baselines: RSA-3072/4096, P-256/P-384; staged PQC-hybrid pilots where feasible.
  • Template redesign, policy OIDs, short-lived certs for workloads.
  • Module validation lifecycle tracking; replace end-of-life FIPS-2 modules with FIPS-3 where required.

BYOK / HYOK / CMK Patterns Across Clouds

  • Azure: Key Vault (Standard/Managed HSM) with BYOK/HYOK; Intune Cloud PKI anchored to corporate trust where applicable.
  • AWS: KMS CMKs with import (BYOK), CloudHSM for dedicated custody, ACM Private CA policy controls.
  • Google: Cloud KMS key import/wrapping; Cloud HSM for dedicated custody; CAS issuance governance.
  • Key rotation SLAs, dual-control approvals, escrow/backup strategies aligned to CP/CPS.

Secrets Management & Certificate Automation

  • Secret managers: Azure Key Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, Google Secret Manager with governance wrappers.
  • ACME/EST/SCEP/NDES enrollment, SPIFFE/SPIRE IDs for mesh mTLS, automated rotation.
  • SBOM/HBOM alignment for crypto dependencies; change control & attestation.

THE Cost of the Wrong HSM/KMS Choice

  • Compliance exposure: FIPS invalidation, audit findings, regulatory breach.
  • Operational downtime: revocation storms, CRL/OCSP failures, mesh mTLS breakage.
  • Lock-in & rework: if BYOK/HYOK not planned; key exfiltration risk.
  • Hidden costs: CA/KMS transactions, egress, and issuance volume not forecast.

Reference Architectures

  • Offline Root CA on HSM, On-prem Issuing CA, Cloud Subordinate Issuing CA (Azure/AWS/GCP).
  • Bridge/Policy CA for multi-forest, federated workload identity across clouds.
  • Service mesh anchored to corporate PKI via SPIFFE/SPIRE with short-lived certs.

Engagement Process: Assess, Design, Pilot, Cutover

  • 1. Discovery & Assessment: inventory HSMs, keys, modules, policies, templates, consumers.
  • 2. Target Architecture: platform choices, BYOK/HYOK, rotation SLOs, revocation design.
  • 3. Pilot & Hardening: issuance flows, HSM/KMS policies, break-glass, monitoring.
  • 4. Cutover & RunOps: staged migration, evidence packs, cost/usage dashboards, training.

FAQs: HSM, KMS & Cloud PKI

  • Do we need Dedicated HSM or can we use cloud KMS only?
  • Depends on key custody, FIPS requirements, and regulator stance. We evaluate Dedicated HSM vs Managed HSM/KMS per risk and cost.
  • How does BYOK/HYOK actually work?
  • Keys are generated or wrapped in approved HSMs and imported to cloud KMS with verifiable custody, using standard wrapping (e.g., RSA-OAEP/AES-KWP).
  • Can we keep our on-prem Root CA and move issuing to cloud?
  • Yes. We subordinate cloud issuing CAs to your Root/Policy CAs and phase consumers across.
  • What about post-quantum crypto?
  • We plan hybrid pilots where feasible and keep algorithm agility in templates and code paths.

Related Services

  • Microsoft AD CS to Cloud PKI Migration
  • Service Mesh mTLS & Workload Identity
  • PKI & Certificate Management
  • Post-Quantum Cryptography Readiness

Talk to SafeCipher

Ready to unify HSMs, KMS, and Hybrid PKI under robust governance? We map a compliant, cost-aware architecture for your cloud(s) and on-prem PKI.