PKI and HSM Services: Cloud HSM vs On‑Prem, BYOK vs HYOK, Compliance & PQC
Design, build, and operate high‑assurance PKI with the right Hardware Security Module strategy. We compare cloud HSM vs on‑prem HSM, map BYOK vs HYOK to your key custody needs, reduce OCSP/signing latency, and align with FIPS 140‑3, NCSC, and post‑quantum cryptography (PQC) roadmaps.
PKI Architecture & CA Hierarchies
Root/Issuing CA design, certificate policies (CP/CPS), ceremony planning, crypto‑agility, and migration from on‑prem AD CS to cloud‑integrated models without disrupting production.
HSM Strategy: Cloud HSM vs On‑Prem HSM
Selection and integration of dedicated single‑tenant cloud HSMs or on‑prem appliances, with clear key‑custody boundaries, attestation, and data‑residency controls.
Key Custody Models: BYOK vs HYOK
Design who can authorise key use, how, and under which jurisdiction. Implement customer‑held admin keys and dual control for regulated environments.
Performance & OCSP Latency
Benchmark remote signing, size queues, deploy private connectivity, and co‑locate workloads to keep SLAs tight.
Compliance: FIPS 140‑3, NCSC, UK MOD
Align technical controls and evidence to regulator expectations. Map provider SLAs and attestation to CP/CPS and audit artefacts.
PQC & HNDL Roadmaps
Inventory crypto, prioritise long‑lived data, and plan phased adoption of quantum‑safe algorithms as standards and tooling mature.
Quick definition
Cloud HSM vs on‑prem HSM: a cloud HSM is hosted by a provider and accessed over secure APIs, offering scale and DR; an on‑prem HSM is fully under your physical control. For high‑assurance PKI, cloud HSMs can add trust, jurisdiction, and latency risks—so keep Root CA keys offline/on‑prem and use dedicated single‑tenant modules with clear residency and custody controls.
Cloud HSM vs On‑Prem HSM: comparison
| Criterion | On‑Prem HSM | Cloud HSM (Dedicated) | Cloud HSM (Managed/Multi‑tenant) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key custody | Full physical control | Strong logical control; provider facility | Provider control plane; logical isolation |
| Latency | Lowest | Low if co‑located/peered | Variable (WAN/Internet) |
| Compliance (Root CA) | Best fit | Sometimes acceptable | Rarely acceptable |
| DR/Scale | Manual | High, provider‑assisted | High, provider‑assisted |
| Cost model | CapEx + ops | OpEx, reserved capacity | OpEx, usage‑based |
BYOK vs HYOK: choosing a key custody model
BYOK (bring your own key) can originate or import keys but leaves operational control with the provider’s control plane. HYOK (hold your own key) retains custody with you—often via on‑prem or dedicated HSMs—and is preferred for high‑assurance CA keys.
Reducing OCSP/Signing Latency with Remote HSMs
- Co‑locate signing workloads with the HSM or use private connectivity.
- Batch/queue requests; design for back‑pressure and failover.
- Measure peak‑load performance and variance; set realistic SLOs.
Compliance & Governance: FIPS 140‑3, NCSC, UK
We align your PKI and HSM architecture with relevant standards and regulator expectations, ensuring CP/CPS, ceremonies, RBAC, and evidence packages are audit‑ready.
HNDL & Post‑Quantum Cryptography (PQC)
Reduce Harvest‑Now‑Decrypt‑Later risk by limiting exposure of long‑lived sensitive data, rotating keys, and planning a staged PQC rollout. Start with crypto inventories and agility patterns so you can adopt quantum‑safe algorithms without disruption.
Decision Checklist: PKI + Cloud HSM
- ☑ Clear requirement for off‑prem crypto? If not, keep CA keys on‑prem/offline.
- ☑ Dedicated single‑tenant HSMs with residency and attestation controls?
- ☑ CP/CPS, ceremonies, RBAC updated for provider involvement?
- ☑ Latency/throughput proven under peak with failover tested?
- ☑ Evidence for audits mapped to FIPS/NCSC and internal policy?
- ☑ PQC/HNDL roadmap aligned to data longevity and business risk?
FAQs
Is a dedicated cloud HSM safe for Sub CA keys?
Often acceptable with strong attestation, dual control, regional residency, and clear contracts. Root CA keys should remain offline/on‑prem.
Can I mix on‑prem HSM and cloud subscribers?
Yes—use hybrid patterns: keep issuance ceremonies on‑prem, automate short‑lived cert issuance to cloud workloads, and sign at the edge.
Which providers do you support?
We’re vendor‑neutral and work with Azure Dedicated/Managed HSM, AWS CloudHSM/KMS, Google Cloud HSM, Keyfactor, EJBCA, Venafi, and more.
Speak to a PKI Specialist
Tell us about your PKI and HSM goals, constraints, and timelines. We’ll propose a pragmatic, audit‑ready design.