Which Azure service securely stores and manages encryption keys for cloud applications? Learn how Azure Key Vault provides centralized, scalable, and compliant key management for sensitive data protection.
Table of Contents
Question
A company needs to securely store and manage encryption keys used by their applications in Azure. Which service should they use?
A. Azure Active Directory
B. Azure Key Vault
C. Azure Blob Storage
D. Azure Security Center
E. Azure Firewall
Answer
B. Azure Key Vault
Explanation
Azure Key Vault is a cloud service that securely stores and manages keys, secrets, and certificates, helping organizations maintain control over sensitive data.
The best Azure service for securely storing and managing encryption keys used by applications is Azure Key Vault.
- Centralized Key Management: Azure Key Vault is a secure, cloud-based service designed specifically to store and manage cryptographic keys, secrets (like passwords and connection strings), and certificates.
- Security and Compliance: Keys in Key Vault are protected by hardware security modules (HSMs), providing strong cryptographic protection and compliance with standards such as FIPS 140-2, PCI DSS, and GDPR.
- Access Control: Access to keys is tightly controlled using Azure role-based access control (RBAC) and access policies, ensuring only authorized users and applications can retrieve or manage keys.
- Integration: Key Vault integrates seamlessly with Azure services (e.g., Virtual Machines, App Service, Azure Kubernetes Service, Functions), allowing applications to securely retrieve keys and secrets at runtime without exposing them in code or configuration files.
- Lifecycle Management: Supports creation, rotation, versioning, and expiration of keys, enabling organizations to automate key management best practices and maintain auditability.
- Encryption: All keys and secrets are encrypted at rest and in transit. Key Vault provides both software-protected and HSM-protected key options, depending on security requirements.
- Operational Benefits: By centralizing key management, Key Vault reduces the risk of credential leakage, simplifies secret rotation, and streamlines compliance audits.
Azure Key Vault is specifically designed to securely store and manage encryption keys, secrets, and certificates, ensuring sensitive data is protected, accessible only to authorized parties, and compliant with industry standards.
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