Overview
Fortanix Solution
Fortanix DSM functions as an external key store for AWS to enable organizations to move the data to the cloud with the highest level of security and control for their keys. Encryption keys are under complete customer control and secured by FIPS 140-2 level 3 certified HSMs, segregated from the cloud data. Fortanix DSM users get a centralized solution to get control the lifecycle of their keys, no matter if they are used on-premises, or in the cloud.

Benefits
Complete Customer Control
Centralized Policy Management
Automated Key Management
Secure and Flexible Deployment
How Does AWS External Key Store with Fortanix DSM Work?
As shown in the diagram below, XKS allows AWS KMS to use external, customer-managed Root Keys, which increases the customer’s control of their key management and data protection initiatives.The customer’s Root Keys are generated, protected, and used wholly within Fortanix DSM. AWS KMS calls DSM to unwrap Data Encryption Keys (DEKs) for use by the AWS services it supports. DSM enforces granular access control and key usage policies. DEKs protected by an XKS are doubly enveloped (encrypted): once by KMS, and once by DSM. Every time the key is used by a KMS client, KMS requests Fortanix DSM to open the blue envelope and we send the gray envelope back to them to decrypt. This way, Fortanix never sees the customer’s keys.