# Which encryption key management platforms offer hardware security module integration and compliance support?

Hello experts!

We're researching how security teams in regulated industries are approaching hardware-backed key management and what to know specifically, which tools from the Encryption Key Management category combine hardware security module (HSM) integration with the audit trails and regulatory controls needed for FIPS 140-2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, and GDPR. 

Here are a few I have been looking at.

  1. AWS CloudHSM: Built entirely around dedicated hardware security modules. It is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated, and is a single-tenant HSM deployed directly inside a customer's VPC, with end-to-end encrypted communication and exclusive key ownership. Did the dedicated hardware boundary give your compliance or audit team assurance that a software-managed service couldn't?
  2. Azure Key Vault: HSM-backed key storage, BYOK import without keys leaving the HSM boundary, FIPS compliance via the premium tier, and auditing and logging are its strongest compliance features. Did the HSM-backed premium tier satisfy your auditors, or did the Thales/external HSM integration complexity create friction?
  3. Akeyless Identity Security Platform: Rather than traditional HSM storage, Akeyless uses Distributed Fragments Cryptography to ensure key material is never fully materialized in one place. It stands out with the BYOK encryption provisions, granular RBAC, and full audit logs. Did the cryptographic architecture give your compliance team equivalent assurance to a traditional HSM boundary, or did the absence of physical hardware raise questions?
  4. AWS Key Management Service (KMS): Comes with automatic key rotation for compliance and BYOK support for generating and storing key copies outside AWS, and IAM-governed centralized key access. Did KMS meet your compliance bar on its own, or did your regulatory framework push you toward pairing it with CloudHSM?
  5. Azure Confidential Computing: Uses secure enclave-based VMs with managed HSM and attestation capabilities. It sits at the intersection of HSM and confidential compute, making it distinct from pure key management tools. Has the secure enclave model addressed compliance requirements that a standard key vault could not?

From your experience in a regulated environment, did hardware-backed key storage become a requirement from an external auditor, or was it a decision your security team made proactively?

And which certification, FIPS 140-2, SOC 2, PCI DSS, or something else, drove the most scrutiny in your evaluation?

##### Post Metadata - Posted at: 6 days ago - Author title: Marketing Executive - Net upvotes: 1 ## Comments ### Comment 1 <p><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">Also, did the hardware boundary actually change the conversation with your auditors, or did the compliance team still have follow-up questions even after CloudHSM?</span></p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: 4 days ago - Author title: Marketing Executive ## Related discussions - [How well does Trello scale into a larger team?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/1-how-well-does-trello-scale-into-a-larger-team) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 6 - [Can we please add a new section](https://www.g2.com/discussions/2-can-we-please-add-a-new-section) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 0 - [Quantifiable benefits from implementing your CRM](https://www.g2.com/discussions/quantifiable-benefits-from-implementing-your-crm) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 4