# Best Encryption Key Management Software for Small Business *By [Lauren Worth](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/lauren-worth)* Products classified in the overall Encryption Key Management category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, small business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Small Business Encryption Key Management to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Small Business Encryption Key Management category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Encryption Key Management Software category, to qualify for inclusion in the Small Business Encryption Key Management Software category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a small business. ## How Many Encryption Key Management Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 68 ### Category Stats (Jun 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.45/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **New Reviews This Quarter**: 19 - **Buyer Segments**: Small-Business 43% │ Mid-Market 40% │ Enterprise 17% Represents the distribution of reviewers across all products in this category. - **Top Trending Product**: AWS Key Management Service (KMS) (+0.48%) - Among all products in this category, AWS Key Management Service (KMS) recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: June 09, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Encryption Key Management Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 2,300+ Authentic Reviews - 68+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. --- **Sponsored** ### Foxpass by Splashtop Foxpass Cloud RADIUS by Splashtop is a fully managed, cloud-hosted RADIUS authentication service designed to provide secure, passwordless access to Wi-Fi networks, VPNs, and various network infrastructures. This solution is particularly tailored for IT teams that prioritize security, control, and operational simplicity. By employing certificate-based and identity-based authentication protocols, Foxpass ensures that every device and user connection is validated, enhancing the overall security posture of an organization. The product is especially beneficial for organizations looking to eliminate the vulnerabilities associated with shared passwords. By utilizing X.509 certificate authentication (EAP-TLS) and identity-driven policies (EAP-TTLS), Foxpass facilitates the implementation of Zero Trust principles. This approach allows organizations to assign role-based access controls and maintain comprehensive audit visibility without the need for on-premises servers or complex Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). Such features make Foxpass an appealing choice for enterprises, educational institutions, and global teams seeking to streamline their authentication processes. Foxpass seamlessly integrates with various identity providers, including Microsoft Entra ID (Azure), Google, OKTA, and OneLogin. This integration is complemented by automated certificate management capabilities through leading Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions such as Microsoft Intune, Jamf, Kandji, and Addigy. Additionally, the built-in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) workflows enable secure enrollment of unmanaged or personal devices, ensuring that organizations can maintain security standards while accommodating diverse device types. Compliance with industry standards is another critical aspect of Foxpass. The service is designed to meet regulations such as GDPR, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, FERPA, and CIPA, making it suitable for organizations with stringent compliance requirements. Furthermore, Foxpass offers regional hosting and data residency options, which are essential for organizations that must adhere to specific sovereignty or privacy mandates. This flexibility ensures that users can implement Foxpass in a manner that aligns with their operational and regulatory needs. Overall, Foxpass Cloud RADIUS by Splashtop stands out in the authentication service category by providing a robust, cloud-based solution that enhances security, simplifies management, and supports compliance across various industries. Its focus on passwordless access and seamless integration with existing identity systems positions it as a valuable tool for organizations aiming to enhance their network security infrastructure. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=1863&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=2599&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=neighbor_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=2599&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=16236&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=1863&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fencryption-key-management%2Fsmall-business&secure%5Btoken%5D=9e746913dfda2b997a5c066db9ef0750dbf14b7eefddc5c03dc27b20638ede02&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.splashtop.com%2Ffoxpass%3Futm_source%3Dg2.com%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_campaign%3D251218_WW_WW_G2_CLM_Foxpass&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated Encryption Key Management Software Products in 2026? ### 1. [Egnyte](https://www.g2.com/products/egnyte/reviews) Egnyte combines the power of cloud content management, data security, and AI into one intelligent content platform. More than 22,000 customers trust Egnyte to improve employee productivity, automate business processes, and safeguard critical data, in addition to offering specialized content intelligence and automation solutions across industries, including architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), life sciences, and financial services. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1,136 **How Do G2 Users Rate Egnyte?** - **Regional Support:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Scalability:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **API/Integrations:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Egnyte?** - **Seller:** [Egnyte](https://www.g2.com/sellers/egnyte) - **Company Website:** https://www.egnyte.com - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** Mountain View, CA - **Twitter:** @Egnyte (16,131 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1015589/ (1,289 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Project Manager, Owner - **Top Industries:** Construction, Marketing and Advertising - **Company Size:** 44% Small-Business, 38% Mid-Market #### What Are Egnyte's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (119 reviews) - File Sharing (69 reviews) - Easy Sharing (53 reviews) - Easy Access (45 reviews) - Security (44 reviews) **Cons:** - Expensive (21 reviews) - File Management (19 reviews) - User Difficulty (13 reviews) - Lacking Features (12 reviews) - Missing Features (12 reviews) ### 2. [Doppler secrets management platform](https://www.g2.com/products/doppler-secrets-management-platform/reviews) Doppler is a centralized, secure secrets management platform tailored for DevOps engineers and CTOs at mid-market and enterprise companies. Secrets sprawl and fragmented processes can create significant risks, inefficiencies, and operational headaches. Doppler tackles these issues by consolidating secret management into a single, secure platform, ensuring reliability and consistency across teams and environments. Doppler’s mission reflects its core value: replacing disorganized, high-risk workflows with a unified, reliable system. With Doppler, teams can better manage their secrets while fostering security and operational stability. Managing secrets across diverse systems can often feel overwhelming. Doppler eliminates this complexity by organizing and securing sensitive data in one place. Its unified interface allows teams to maintain control over their secrets, enforce security best practices, and reduce the likelihood of misconfigurations or breaches. Doppler provides a structured and dependable solution to secrets management by addressing key challenges like: - Manual secret rotations - Synchronization issues - Compliance tracking Integration with popular tools and workflows is central to Doppler’s design. This ensures compatibility without disrupting established processes. This reduces operational bottlenecks, helping teams maintain productivity and focus on deploying critical applications. Connect with tools like: - Kubernetes - Terraform - CI/CD pipelines Its built-in logging and audit trails reduce the burden of manual compliance tasks, allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than administrative overhead. The platform also enhances visibility by providing insights into secret usage and access, ensuring that no detail is overlooked. For organizations concerned with compliance, Doppler simplifies the process of meeting industry standards such as: - SOC 2 - HIPAA - GDPR - ISO Doppler delivers a dependable way to centralize and safeguard secrets, reducing the risk of operational disruptions while maintaining compliance. Whether managing daily operations or scaling infrastructure, Doppler ensures your organization is prepared to handle the challenges of modern development environments. By bringing security, organization, and clarity to secret management, Doppler empowers teams to focus on what truly matters—driving innovation and delivering impactful results. **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 94 **How Do G2 Users Rate Doppler secrets management platform?** - **Regional Support:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Scalability:** 9.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **API/Integrations:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Doppler secrets management platform?** - **Seller:** [Doppler](https://www.g2.com/sellers/doppler) - **Company Website:** https://www.doppler.com/ - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, California - **Twitter:** @doppler (1,587 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/dopplerhq/ (45 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** CTO - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 73% Small-Business, 27% Mid-Market #### What Are Doppler secrets management platform's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (4 reviews) - Easy Integrations (3 reviews) - Integrations (2 reviews) - Synchronization (2 reviews) - Access Control (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Complex Setup (3 reviews) - Expensive (2 reviews) - Limited OS Compatibility (1 reviews) - Setup Difficulty (1 reviews) ### 3. [Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Vault](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-cloud-infrastructure-vault/reviews) Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Key Management is a managed service that enables you to encrypt your data using keys that you control. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 35 **How Do G2 Users Rate Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Vault?** - **Regional Support:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Scalability:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **API/Integrations:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Vault?** - **Seller:** [Oracle](https://www.g2.com/sellers/oracle) - **Year Founded:** 1977 - **HQ Location:** Austin, TX - **Twitter:** @Oracle (828,032 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1028/ (208,078 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NYSE:ORCL **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 44% Small-Business, 31% Enterprise ### 4. [Azure Key Vault](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-key-vault/reviews) Azure Key Vault is a cloud service designed to securely store and manage cryptographic keys, secrets, and certificates used by applications and services. It enables organizations to safeguard sensitive information such as API keys, passwords, and connection strings, ensuring that these secrets are protected and accessible only to authorized users and applications. By centralizing the management of keys and secrets, Azure Key Vault helps maintain compliance with security standards and simplifies the administration of cryptographic materials. Key Features and Functionality: - Secrets Management: Securely store and tightly control access to tokens, passwords, certificates, API keys, and other secrets. - Key Management: Easily create and control the encryption keys used to encrypt your data. - Certificate Management: Provision, manage, and deploy public and private Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer (TLS/SSL) certificates for use with Azure and your internal connected resources. - Access Control: Integrates with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to provide fine-grained access control through role-based access control (RBAC) and access policies. - Monitoring and Logging: Monitor and audit key usage with Azure logging—pipe logs into Azure HDInsight or your security information and event management (SIEM) solution for more analysis and threat detection. - Integration with Azure Services: Seamlessly integrates with other Azure services, such as Azure Storage, Azure SQL Database, and Azure App Service, allowing applications to retrieve and use secrets, certificates, and keys securely without needing to store sensitive information in application code or configuration files. Primary Value and Problem Solved: Azure Key Vault addresses the critical need for secure and efficient management of cryptographic keys and secrets in cloud environments. By centralizing the storage and access control of sensitive information, it reduces the risk of accidental leaks and unauthorized access. The service simplifies the process of key and secret management, allowing developers to focus on application development without the burden of implementing custom security solutions. Additionally, Azure Key Vault enhances compliance with security standards and regulations by providing robust access controls, monitoring capabilities, and integration with Azure's security ecosystem. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 46 **How Do G2 Users Rate Azure Key Vault?** - **Regional Support:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Scalability:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **API/Integrations:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Azure Key Vault?** - **Seller:** [Microsoft](https://www.g2.com/sellers/microsoft) - **Year Founded:** 1975 - **HQ Location:** Redmond, Washington - **Twitter:** @microsoft (13,091,954 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft/ (231,632 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** MSFT **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Accounting - **Company Size:** 51% Enterprise, 25% Small-Business ### 5. [OpenSSH](https://www.g2.com/products/openssh/reviews) OpenSSH provides tools that allows you to encrypt all traffic to help manage eavesdropping, connection hijacking, and other attacks to your Internet while providing secure tunneling capabilities and more. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 40 **How Do G2 Users Rate OpenSSH?** - **Regional Support:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Scalability:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **API/Integrations:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind OpenSSH?** - **Seller:** [OpenBSD](https://www.g2.com/sellers/openbsd) - **Year Founded:** 1995 - **HQ Location:** Alberta, Canada - **Twitter:** @OpenBSD_CVS (489 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/23930/ (79 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 56% Small-Business, 22% Enterprise ### 6. [Akeyless Identity Security Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/akeyless-identity-security-platform/reviews) Akeyless delivers identity security for an era shaped by automation and AI. The cloud-native platform secures machines, AI agents, and human access across hybrid, multi-cloud, and on-prem environments. It provides a practical path to secretless, identity-based access through secrets management, certificate lifecycle management and PKI, PAM, and unified governance. Akeyless is built on a cryptography foundation that combines encryption, key management, and Distributed Fragments Cryptography to keep sensitive material under customer control and protected from post-quantum threats. With integrations for cloud IAM, Kubernetes, CI/CD, and MCP-based AI agent workflows, teams can adopt and scale AI agents securely without expanding risk. Akeyless Jarvis™ delivers AI-powered identity intelligence to surface risky access and strengthen oversight. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 86 **How Do G2 Users Rate Akeyless Identity Security Platform?** - **Regional Support:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Scalability:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **API/Integrations:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Akeyless Identity Security Platform?** - **Seller:** [Akeyless](https://www.g2.com/sellers/akeyless) - **Company Website:** https://www.akeyless.io - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Ramat Gan, Israel - **Twitter:** @akeylessio (293 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/akeyless/ (107 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 51% Enterprise, 26% Mid-Market #### What Are Akeyless Identity Security Platform's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (12 reviews) - Security (10 reviews) - Customer Support (9 reviews) - Easy Integrations (4 reviews) - Implementation Ease (4 reviews) **Cons:** - Poor Documentation (3 reviews) - Poor UI (3 reviews) - Complex Setup (2 reviews) - Complex Usage (2 reviews) - Dependency Issues (2 reviews) ### 7. [Virtru Email Encryption](https://www.g2.com/products/virtru-email-encryption/reviews) Secure data directly from your inbox with Virtru. Users can easily encrypt emails and attachments with just one click, protecting sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual property, and other regulated information. Seamlessly integrating with platforms like Gmail and Microsoft Outlook, Virtru empowers organizations to meet compliance requirements for HIPAA, GDPR, CJIS, CMMC 2.0, ITAR and other data privacy regulations, without disrupting existing workflows. Virtru provides full control over email content even after it’s been sent. Users can set expiration dates, revoke access, and track where emails are shared, ensuring total visibility and control over sensitive information. With granular access control and audit trails, Virtru simplifies data protection for enterprises and small businesses alike. Ideal for industries such as healthcare, financial services, government, and education, Virtru empowers your teams to confidently share sensitive information without sacrificing security. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 408 **How Do G2 Users Rate Virtru Email Encryption?** - **Regional Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Scalability:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **API/Integrations:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Virtru Email Encryption?** - **Seller:** [Virtru](https://www.g2.com/sellers/virtru) - **Company Website:** https://virtru.com - **Year Founded:** 2012 - **HQ Location:** Washington, DC - **Twitter:** @virtruprivacy (1,790 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtru/ (259 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Office Manager, Administrative Assistant - **Top Industries:** Hospital & Health Care, Health, Wellness and Fitness - **Company Size:** 45% Mid-Market, 38% Small-Business #### What Are Virtru Email Encryption's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (73 reviews) - Security (70 reviews) - Encryption (61 reviews) - Email Encryption (53 reviews) - Secure Communication (40 reviews) **Cons:** - Email Issues (47 reviews) - Email Encryption Issues (37 reviews) - Access Issues (26 reviews) - Encryption Issues (23 reviews) - Access Limitations (16 reviews) ### 8. [SecureKey](https://www.g2.com/products/securekey/reviews) SecureKey is a leading identity and authentication provider that simplifies consumer access to online services and applications. **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 49 **How Do G2 Users Rate SecureKey?** - **Ease of Use:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind SecureKey?** - **Seller:** [SecureKey Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/securekey-technologies) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** Toronto, ON - **Twitter:** @SecureKey (2,579 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/securekey/ (18 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Banking, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 45% Small-Business, 31% Mid-Market #### What Are SecureKey's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (3 reviews) - Security (2 reviews) - Convenience (1 reviews) - Customer Support (1 reviews) - Privacy (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Difficult Learning Process (1 reviews) - Expensive (1 reviews) ## What Is Encryption Key Management Software? [Data Security Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/data-security) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Encryption Key Management Software? - [Encryption Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/encryption-software) - [Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/certificate-lifecycle-management-clm) - [Secrets Management Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/secrets-management-tools) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Encryption Key Management Software? ### What You Should Know About Encryption Key Management Software ### What is Encryption Key Management Software? Encryption key management software assists companies with protecting and managing their cryptographic keys used for encrypting data on devices and in applications. Encryption key management software manages encryption keys throughout a key pair’s lifecycle, which includes key generation, exchange, use, integrity, availability, storage, backup or archive, revocation, and deregistration or destruction. On the backend, these tools manage encryption key generation, distribution, and replacement, while on the client side, the tools inject encryption keys and store and manage them on devices. These software solutions protect the keys by ensuring that only authenticated and authorized users can access them, preventing them from being disclosed, lost, misused, or intercepted by unauthorized parties. **What Do KMS and HSM Stand For?** KMS stands for key management systems. Key management systems are centralized hubs that manage the key lifecycle, including generation, certification, storage, usage, expiration, revocation, and retirement. Centralized key management systems work in conjunction with hardware security modules (HSMs). KMS may also be known by the following acronyms: CKMS, which is cryptographic key management system, or EKMS, which stands for enterprise key management system. HSM stands for hardware security modules. Hardware security modules are servers built to be tamper-resistant or tamper-proof. HSMs generate, retrieve, share, and protect keys. These are considered the most secure key storage as these are physically built to prevent tampering by using special tamper-resistant screws and sealants. #### What Types of Encryption Key Management Software Exist? **On-premises encryption key management** Some companies opt to store their key manager on-premises using a hardware security module (HSM), which is a server built to be tamper-resistant or tamper-proof.  **Cloud-based encryption key management** Some companies have complex key management needs and need a solution that scales to meet the volume and complexity of their encryption key transaction needs. Centralized cloud-based encryption key management can assist with symmetric and asymmetric key management and work with various databases, applications, and standards. Bring your own encryption (BYOE) or bring your own key (BYOK) is akin to the bring your own device (BYOD) security models—companies bring their own encryption key management software to deploy on public cloud infrastructure. However, this security model has trade-offs as this may entail giving cloud providers access to keys, which may not meet a company’s security policies.  **Key management as a service** Some cloud providers offer their own key management as a service solution in their cloud environments. ### What are the Common Features of Encryption Key Management Software? The following are some core features within encryption key management software: **Interoperability:** For companies that use multiple types of cryptographic keys and multiple software applications, interoperability is important. Many encryption key management solutions are based on standard protocols, including Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP) standard or Public Key Crypto Standard (PKCS 11). Other solutions will rely on closed-source key management. **Policy management:** Companies may have specific policies for their encryption keys, including when to expire or revoke them or methods to prevent sharing the keys. Encryption key management software will enforce these policies. **Access management:** In addition to creating and managing the keys themselves, it is important to manage who has access permissions to those keys. Many companies employ a least-privilege policy where users and systems have the least access needed to achieve their role function. Encryption key management solutions can enforce those policies, ensuring that only authorized and authenticated users or systems have access to the keys can prevent misuse. These tools will also provide access and audit logs. **Backup:** If the keys are lost, access to the encrypted data will be unrecoverable without backup. Many encryption key management solutions offer backup features. ### What are the Benefits of Encryption Key Management Software? If not properly managed, encryption keys can fall into the wrong hands and be used to decrypt sensitive data. This can risk sensitive encrypted data or disrupt critical business information access. Managing encryption keys manually can be challenging to meet today’s business needs as the scale and complexity of applications used and the encryption and keys needed to secure those have grown, which is why many companies have opted for automated management solutions. If data encryption key management is managed manually, this time-consuming task may come at the expense of speed, availability, interoperability, accuracy, and integrity.  **Security:** The main purpose of encryption and, therefore, encryption key management is security. Encryption key management software assists in managing encryption keys at scale in a secure manner and remains available to meet business needs. **Meeting regulatory compliance:** Some highly regulated industries are bound by various data protection regulations for storing and managing encryption keys. Using encryption key management software, companies can meet requirements of regulations such as PCI DSS 3.2.1, NIST 800-53, and NIST 800-57. **Scalability:** Today’s businesses rely on multiple devices and applications needing encryption, meaning they need an encryption key management solution that scales at speed to generate, distribute, and manage the keys. This can mean the ability to generate hundreds of keys per minute. Many businesses require low latency and high availability for their keys. ### Who Uses Encryption Key Management Software? **Information security professionals:** Information security professionals use encryption key management solutions which may include on-premises solutions like HSMs, centralized cloud-based solutions, or cloud-infrastructure-specific software-as-a-service solutions. **IT professionals:** If a company does not have a dedicated information security (infosec) team, the responsibility for managing encryption keys falls on information technology (IT) teams. #### Software Related to Encryption Key Management Software Related solutions that can be used together with or as an alternative encryption key management software include: [Encryption software](https://www.g2.com/categories/encryption) **:** Companies use encryption software to protect the confidentiality and integrity of their data. Encryption software will turn plaintext into cipher text using encryption. Keys to unencrypt the data will be stored using encryption key management solutions. [Email encryption software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-encryption) **:** To protect the confidentiality of data in transit, companies use email encryption software. Companies can use encryption key management solutions to protect the encryption keys.  [Certificate lifecycle management (CLM) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/certificate-lifecycle-management-clm) **:** Public key infrastructure (PKI) is an asymmetric encryption key management system that utilizes digital certificates such as SSL or TLS certificates and public keys to secure assets like website traffic. [Secrets management tools:](https://www.g2.com/categories/secrets-management-tools) Developer and DevOps teams, in particular, may utilize secrets management tools to store sensitive digital assets, such as encryption keys. ### Challenges with Encryption Key Management Software **BYOE or BYOK:** Companies must carefully understand who has access to their encryption keys. When utilizing a BYOE or BYOK security model, it is important to know who has access to the keys, including providers. **Scalability and availability:** It is important to ensure that generating, managing, utilizing, and retiring encryption keys meets your company’s scale and availability requirements. **Backup:** If encryption keys are lost, companies must have a backup plan. Ensure the software solution you are evaluating meets your specific backup needs. **Regionality:** Some geographic areas have data sovereignty and data residency requirements, so encryption keys may be managed differently based on the regional requirements. **Governance:** Some data may be governed by data protection regulations, and a company’s encryption and encryption key management policies may need to meet specific regulatory compliance needs. ### How to Buy Encryption Key Management Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Encryption Key Management Software Gather your company’s specific encryption key management requirements, including if you need to manage your encryption keys on-premises, with a centralized cloud key management offering, or using an infrastructure-specific encryption key management service. It is important to determine what kind of interoperability you require. Also, consider the scale at which you need keys deployed and managed and the availability you seek. Discuss your backup needs. Authentication and access control functionality is also important. And determine which geographic areas your business needs are, and be sure to speak with vendors about these requirements. #### Compare Encryption Key Management Software Products **Create a long list** The long list should include a list of providers that meet your basic interoperability, hosting, scale, regionality, and functionality requirements. Companies can identify products by using software review sites like G2.com to review what users of those solutions like and dislike, along with rankings on six satisfaction metrics. **Create a short list** Shorten your long list by identifying must-have functionality. Factors to consider at this stage include integrations, price, and whether the solution meets your regulatory requirements. **Conduct demos** When conducting demos of each potential solution, it is important to ask questions about the user interface, the ease of use, and the skills required to operate the encryption key management solution. The company’s staff should be able to learn the functionality of the tool quickly to receive the fastest return on investment. #### Selection of Encryption Key Management Software **Choose a selection team** The selection team should include employees using the encryption key management tool in their daily duties and understand the use case. These would typically be colleagues from information security (Infosec) and information technology (IT) teams. Other parties from leadership and finance should also be included. **Negotiation** Security products such as encryption key management tools help companies manage risk. Knowing the cost of a breach or exposed keys to an organization can help your company understand the value these tools bring to your company. Understand what your budget is with this in mind.   **Final decision** Colleagues who work on defining and managing the company’s data security policies and programs are in the best position to decide which software solution fits the organization’s needs. These professionals will have the most experience with cryptography tools and can best evaluate the products.