The life cycle of key management refers to the stages a cryptographic key goes through from its creation to its secure disposal. It ensures keys are properly generated, stored, distributed, used, rotated, and destroyed to maintain security.
Key Generation: Creating a secure cryptographic key using a random or pseudorandom process.
Example: Generating an AES-256 encryption key for data-at-rest protection.
Key Storage: Safely storing the key in a secure environment, such as a hardware security module (HSM) or encrypted key vault.
Example: Storing the key in Tencent Cloud's Key Management Service (KMS) with HSM-backed protection.
Key Distribution: Securely sharing the key with authorized parties or systems.
Example: Using Tencent Cloud KMS to securely distribute keys to multiple servers via API calls.
Key Usage: Applying the key for cryptographic operations like encryption, decryption, signing, or verification.
Example: Encrypting sensitive database fields using the key before storage.
Key Rotation: Periodically replacing old keys with new ones to limit exposure from potential compromises.
Example: Automatically rotating database encryption keys every 90 days via Tencent Cloud KMS policies.
Key Revocation: Disabling or invalidating a key if it’s compromised or no longer needed.
Example: Revoking a key immediately after detecting unauthorized access attempts.
Key Destruction: Securely erasing the key to prevent recovery.
Example: Permanently deleting a decommissioned key from Tencent Cloud KMS with audit logging.
Tencent Cloud KMS helps automate and secure each stage of the key lifecycle, ensuring compliance with industry standards.