Implement secure key and certificate management

Protecting data in transit is crucial in preventing unauthorized access and ensuring data integrity. Implementing secure key and certificate management is a foundational practice in safeguarding network communications, which mitigates the risks associated with data breaches and loss.

Best Practices

Implement Strong Key and Certificate Management Procedures

• Regularly rotate TLS certificates to reduce the risk of exposure and ensure the use of up-to-date cryptographic methods.
• Use a centralized key management service (KMS) to manage the lifecycle of keys and certificates securely, allowing for easier tracking and auditing.
• Establish role-based access control (RBAC) to limit access to sensitive keys and certificates only to authorized personnel and systems.
• Monitor and log all access and changes to keys and certificates to detect unauthorized access or anomalies in their usage.
• Implement automated processes for certificate generation, renewal, and revocation to eliminate manual errors and to keep the certificates updated seamlessly.

Leverage Certificate Authorities (CAs) Wisely

• Choose reputable and trusted Certificate Authorities to issue TLS certificates to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of your network communications.
• Utilize automated processes (like ACME protocol) for obtaining and renewing certificates from CAs to minimize operational overhead.
• Regularly review and tighten your trust store to include only necessary and up-to-date CAs, reducing the attack surface from untrusted certificates.

Enforce Strong Cipher Suites

• Configure your servers to use strong, up-to-date cipher suites and protocols, disabling outdated versions (like SSL 3.0 or early versions of TLS) that are vulnerable to attacks.
• Regularly assess and test your TLS configuration using tools like SSL Labs to verify effectiveness and compliance with security best practices.

Questions to ask your team

• What method do you use to manage TLS certificates across your systems?
• How do you ensure that your TLS certificates are renewed before expiration?
• What process is in place for validating the identity of certificate authorities?
• How do you handle the storage and access of the private keys associated with your certificates?
• Do you use automated tools for key and certificate management, and how do they integrate with your overall security practices?
• What measures are implemented to audit the use and access of keys and certificates?

Who should be doing this?

Security Architect

• Design and implement secure key and certificate management protocols.
• Define and enforce policies for the issuance and renewal of certificates.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards for cryptographic practices.

DevOps Engineer

• Integrate TLS certificates into deployment pipelines.
• Automate the renewal of certificates to prevent service disruptions.
• Monitor the health and validity of certificates used in applications.

System Administrator

• Manage and store private keys securely.
• Configure and maintain server environments to enforce encryption in transit.
• Conduct regular audits of certificate usage and management practices.

Compliance Officer

• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements regarding data protection.
• Review and assess key management practices for compliance.
• Provide training on secure key and certificate handling.

What evidence shows this is happening in your organization?

• Data in Transit Security Policy: A formal policy outlining the organization’s approach to protecting data in transit, including the mandatory use of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and encryption protocols.
• TLS Certificate Management Checklist: A detailed checklist to ensure proper management of TLS certificates, including installation, renewal, and validation processes.
• Secure Key Management Strategy: A strategic document that defines processes for secure generation, storage, use, and rotation of cryptographic keys and certificates.
• Network Communication Diagram: A visual representation of the secure communication paths within the network, highlighting where TLS is employed to secure data transmission.
• Incident Response Plan for Data Breaches: A runbook that outlines steps to be taken in the event of a security incident involving data in transit, with emphasis on key and certificate management.
• Security Awareness Training Manual: A manual used for training employees on the importance of secure communication practices, including the management of TLS certificates and encryption keys.

Cloud Services

AWS

• AWS Certificate Manager: AWS Certificate Manager simplifies the process of provisioning, managing, and deploying SSL/TLS certificates for use with AWS services and internal connected resources, helping to ensure secure data in transit.
• AWS Key Management Service (KMS): AWS KMS provides a secure and highly available key management service that enables you to create and control cryptographic keys for your applications, ensuring secure data transmission.
• AWS CloudHSM: AWS CloudHSM allows you to manage your encryption keys in dedicated hardware security modules (HSMs) backed by AWS, enhancing the security of your data in transit.

Azure

• Azure Key Vault: Azure Key Vault helps safeguard cryptographic keys and secrets used by cloud applications and services, providing secure management of TLS/SSL certificates.
• Azure Application Gateway: Azure Application Gateway includes a web application firewall (WAF) and provides built-in SSL termination and end-to-end SSL for data in transit.

Google Cloud Platform

• Google Cloud Key Management Service: Google Cloud KMS allows you to manage cryptographic keys for your cloud services, ensuring secure encryption and decryption for data in transit.
• Google Cloud Load Balancing: Google Cloud Load Balancing provides SSL offloading, which can secure network traffic to your services and ensure data transmitted is protected.

Question: How do you protect your data in transit?
Pillar: Security (Code: SEC)