Cryptographic Key Rotation: When, Why, and How Enterprises Should Rotate Encryption Keys

In order to protect digital data from attackers, enterprises often use an encryption key. The data is stored inside the key, which can be accessed by the person with the right key. However, these encryption keys cannot remain active for too long. Because as the encryption key gets old, it becomes much easier for an attacker to access the data. This is where the practice of following key rotation becomes important. In this blog, we will discuss key rotation and its importance.

What Is Key Rotation?

Key rotation is a crucial part of key management in cryptography. It involves the process of replacing the old encryption key with a new one. Though the replacement depends on the organization’s security policy, it is preferred to rotate the keys every 30 to 90 days. Implementing this simple practice reduces the chances of data breach, misuse, and theft.

Why Is Key Rotation Important for Enterprises? 

Enterprises are usually the primary target of hackers. Having old keys gives hackers sufficient time to infiltrate the security system and access the keys. But by key rotation, enterprises can limit the time window and keep the hacker locked out from stealing the keys. This not only protects data but also allows enterprises to comply with major data security standards like PCI-DSS.

How Does Key Rotation Work?

A secure key rotation process usually follows these 5 steps:

1. Generate a New Key: The first step involves generating a new encryption key. These keys are used using strong cryptographic algorithms (AES preferrably).

2. Activate the New Key: Once the key is generated, it becomes active for performing cryptographic functions.

3. Continue Supporting the Old Key: The old key should remain accessible as the organization may still need it to decrypt existing data. 

4. Monitor the Transition: Security teams must monitor that systems and applications are correctly using the new key and are no longer dependent on the old key.

5. Retire the Old Key:  The old key is now securely retired or deleted when the key is no longer required by the organization for decryption.

Key Rotation Triggers — When Should Enterprises Replace Encryption Keys? 

1. Rotate Keys on a Regular Schedule

A key cannot be used forever. Most organizations set a rotation schedule based on the type and risk involved with the key. This allows the organization to use a fresh key for cryptographic operations and retires the old cryptographic key.

2. Rotate Keys After a Security Incident

If an encryption key is suspected to be stolen, lost, or compromised, it should be immediately replaced. The old key is then retired and securely deleted to reduce the risk of the key being exposed to external users or hackers.

3. Rotate Keys When Key Access Changes 

An organization is required to replace the key if the access is given from one person to another. This will make sure that person from whom the access was taken cannot use the key. Further, security teams should review if the key is used by the right person or not.

4. Rotate Keys When Systems or Applications Change

Each key must be carefully monitored when migrating to a new system or application. If the migration affects the functioning or access of the key, it must be rotated. This helps organizations to have proper control over their encryption keys in the new environment.

5. Rotate Keys to Meet Security and Compliance Requirements

Each industry has their own security requirements for protecting sensitive information. In the case of financial, healthcare, and government sectors, security requirements are much more stringent. Therefore, keys should be rotated if they don’t meet these security compliances.

How Enterprises Can Automate Key Rotation

Manual key rotation is prone to human errors, delayed schedules, and downtime failures. Enterprises can use a dedicated key management system (KMS) like Thales CipherTrust Cloud Key Manager that offers a built-in automation feature to generate a new key and replace and retire the old key. This helps enterprises automate their process of key rotation without comprising the security standards.

Read more about Thales Key Management Solution.

Strengthen Your Enterprise Key Management With AppleShineTech

If you are an enterprise owner looking for an enterprise key management solution, you can take a look at our strong key management solutions. At AppleShineTech (Thales implementation partner), we provide Thales key management solutions, including CipherTrust Data Security Platform and CipherTrust Cloud Key Manager.

To get a detailed understanding of how these solutions will help your enterprise, you can contact our cybersecurity expert at +91 7042079410.