Which key management practice is crucial in order to ensure compromised keys do not remain vulnerable?

Key rotation is a crucial practice in key management that helps to ensure that compromised keys do not remain vulnerable. By routinely changing cryptographic keys, the potential exposure window for any compromised key is significantly reduced. If a key is suspected to be compromised, it can be retired and replaced with a new key before any damage is done, thereby limiting the attacker’s ability to exploit the compromised key.

Regularly rotating keys also helps to enforce strong security policies, ensuring that keys are kept confidential and are not used for extended periods of time, which could increase the risk of exposure through various attack vectors. This practice is fundamental in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of data that relies on cryptographic protection. Additionally, it fosters a proactive security posture, addressing vulnerabilities before they can be fully exploited by malicious actors.