An open discussion list for topics related to the eduGAIN interfederation service.

[Alan Lewis <alan.lewis AT geant.org>]

Hello Peter,

Thanks I agree. I'll take a look at the process.
The process could include some technical elements that support it (e.g. key 
separation to support quora operations, the external generation process 
itself) that improve its robustness.

Best regards

Alan

Alan Lewis
Trust and Identity Services Product Manager

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-----Original Message-----
From: edugain-discuss-request AT lists.geant.org 
<edugain-discuss-request AT lists.geant.org> On Behalf Of Peter Schober
Sent: 28 March 2019 09:33
To: edugain-discuss AT lists.geant.org
Subject: Re: [eduGAIN-discuss] HSM use cases

* Alan Lewis <alan.lewis AT geant.org> [2019-03-28 10:21]:
> Yes I agree that generating the keys outside the HSM has benefits in 
> terms of key backup and recovery. The key thing is that the process 
> for doing this is itself secure. I don’t know what mechanisms the USB 
> tokens have to do this, so it would be useful to take a look if you 
> can point me at any examples.

I think the point he (and Shannon and myself) was making is that if you 
generate key material outside the HSM by defintion the HSM can do nothing for 
you to make this (more) secure, i.e., it's all in your own processes.
FWIW, here are Guy's notes for provisioning the Nitrokey "HSM" model:
https://safire.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/NitrokeyHSMPrepNotes.pdf

-peter

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