Which technology is used for managing cryptographic keys and centralizing public key infrastructure (PKI) management, but is not specifically designed for encrypting data at rest?

The technology that is intended for managing cryptographic keys and centralizing public key infrastructure (PKI) management is a Hardware Security Module (HSM). HSMs are specialized devices that provide a secure environment for generating, storing, and managing cryptographic keys. They are often used within organizations to enhance the security of the key management process and are essential in various cryptographic functions, such as digital signatures and certificate signing.

What sets HSMs apart is their primary function centered on key management rather than directly encrypting data at rest. While encrypting data at rest can utilize keys generated or managed by an HSM, the HSM itself does not perform the encryption of the data. This uniquely positions HSMs to handle the complexities of cryptographic key lifecycle management—such as creation, storage, and access control—while leaving the actual encryption of data to other systems or applications.

In contrast, Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) are specifically designed for encrypting data at rest, leveraging built-in encryption capabilities. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) focuses on hardware-based security for systems, including functions like secure boot and hardware-backed key generation, but again not primarily for centralized key management. Measured boot is a process that verifies the integrity