About This Guide

This guide describes how to integrate a Utimaco u.trust GP HSM with Para Vault: the HSM generates and holds Para Vault's server key within the hardware security boundary, so that Para Vault relies on the HSM to obtain the key at startup.

Target Audience

This guide is intended for Para Vault administrators and Utimaco HSM administrators.

Purpose of the Integration

This integration ensures that privileged account passwords are protected and used securely and automatically, reducing risk and meeting compliance requirements: Para Vault's server key is protected by HSM hardware, and the key is never written to disk in plaintext.

Abbreviations

Abbreviation

Meaning

HSM

Hardware Security Module

PKI

Public Key Infrastructure

TDE

Transparent Data Encryption

PKCS

Public Key Cryptography Standards

PKCS#11

PKCS Part 11: The Cryptographic Token Interface Standard

SO

The PKCS#11 cryptographic slot Security Officer

DB

Database

JRE

Java Runtime Environment

MBK

Master backup key

P11CAT

the PKCS#11 graphical interface tool

CXI

Cryptographic eXtended Interface

FIPS

Federal Information Processing Standards

AES

Advanced Encryption Standard

CA

Certificate Authority

GCM

Galois/Counter Mode

IP

Internet Protocol

LAN

Local Area Network

PCIe

PCI Express Interface

PIN

Personal Identification Number

URL

Uniform Resource Locator

Abbreviations

Document Conventions

The following conventions are used in this guide:

Convention

Use

Example

Bold

Items of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), e.g., menu options

Press OK 

Monospaced

Code that is given for explanation or as an example, file paths

chsm-create

Italic

References and important terms

See Sample Chapter in the CryptoServer - Sample Manual

Document conventions

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Here you will find important safety information that should be followed.

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