Different cloud service providers support Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) in various ways, allowing customers to maintain control over encryption keys used for their data. Here's how it typically works and examples:
Key Management Integration: Providers offer key management systems (KMS) where customers can generate, import, and manage their own keys. For example, Tencent Cloud’s Key Management Service (KMS) supports importing customer-managed keys, enabling BYOK for services like COS (Cloud Object Storage) and CVM (Cloud Virtual Machine).
Encryption at Rest and in Transit: BYOK ensures data is encrypted using customer-provided keys, both at rest (e.g., stored files) and in transit (e.g., data moving between services). Tencent Cloud allows BYOK for databases like TDSQL and messaging services like CMQ (Cloud Message Queue).
Access Control and Auditing: Providers enforce strict access policies, ensuring only authorized users can use the keys. Tencent Cloud’s KMS logs all key usage, providing audit trails for compliance.
Key Rotation and Revocation: Customers can rotate or revoke keys as needed. Tencent Cloud supports automatic key rotation and immediate revocation to mitigate risks.
Example: A financial institution using Tencent Cloud can import its own encryption key to secure sensitive customer data in COS, ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR or PCI-DSS. The institution retains full control over the key’s lifecycle, while Tencent Cloud handles the underlying encryption infrastructure.