An HSM is a device that is designed to secure encryption keys and associated cryptographic operations. An HSM is designed with physical mechanisms to protect the keys, which include tamper detection and response. In case of any key tampering, the HSM destroys the keys and prevents any security compromise.

An HSM includes logical protections to limit access controls. Logical separation helps the HSM appliance administrator to manage the device securely. Access restriction applies rules for users who can connect it to the network and provision the IP address. You can create a separate role for everyone, including security officers, appliance admin, and users.

As the loss of a key can make your data useless, you need to make sure of high availability for your HSM by maintaining at least two HSMs in different geographic locations. You can use other HSM solutions, such as SafeNet or Voltage. To protect your key, choose a managed HSM provided by cloud services such as AWS CloudHSM or CipherCloud.