Key-Management Systems for Robust Control and Ownership in Cloud Environments

Robust Control and Ownership of Key-Management Processes

Question

Key maintenance and security are paramount within a cloud environment due to the widespread use of encryption for both data and transmissions.

Which of the following key-management systems would provide the most robust control over and ownership of the key-management processes for the cloud customer?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

A.

A remote key management system resides away from the cloud environment and is owned and controlled by the cloud customer.

With the use of a remote service, the cloud customer can avoid being locked into a proprietary system from the cloud provider, but also must ensure that service is compatible with the services offered by the cloud provider.

A local key management system resides on the actual servers using the keys, which does not provide optimal security or control over them.

Both the terms internal key management service and client key management service are provided as distractors.

When using encryption within a cloud environment, it is essential to ensure the security of the encryption keys. The keys are critical because they provide access to the encrypted data. If they are not properly secured, an attacker could potentially gain access to sensitive data.

There are several key-management systems available for cloud customers to choose from, including remote key management service, local key management service, client key management service, and internal key management service. Each of these systems has its own benefits and drawbacks, but the one that provides the most robust control over and ownership of the key-management processes for the cloud customer is the client key management service (option C).

Client key management service refers to a system where the cloud customer manages their encryption keys, rather than relying on the cloud provider to manage them. With this approach, the customer has full control over the keys, including how they are generated, stored, and used. This provides the highest level of security and control over the key-management processes.

In contrast, remote key management service (option A) refers to a system where the cloud provider manages the keys on behalf of the customer. While this approach can be convenient, it also means that the customer has less control over the key-management processes, which can be a security risk.

Similarly, with local key management service (option B), the encryption keys are managed locally within the customer's environment. While this provides more control than remote key management, it can also be more difficult to manage and maintain.

Finally, with internal key management service (option D), the encryption keys are managed by the cloud provider, but the customer has some level of control over the key-management processes. While this can be a good compromise between security and convenience, it still means that the customer has less control over the keys than they would with a client key management service.

In summary, the client key management service is the best option for customers who want the most robust control over and ownership of the key-management processes for their cloud environment.