Recommendation for Key Management - NIST

1 NIST Special Publication 800-57 Part 2 Revision 1 Recommendation for Key Management : Part 2 Best Practices for Key Management Organizations Elaine Barker William C. Barker This publication is available free of charge from: C O M P U T E R S E C U R I T Y NIST Special Publication 800-57 Part 2 Revision 1 Recommendation for Key Management : Part 2 Best Practices for Key Management Organizations Elaine Barker Computer Security Division Information Technology Laboratory William C. Barker Dakota Consulting Silver Spring, MD This publication is available free of charge from: May 2019 Department of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary National Institute of Standards and Technology Walter Copan, NIST Director and Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Authority This publication has been developed by NIST to further its statutory responsibilities under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014, 44 3551 et seq.

2 , Public Law ( ) 113-283. NIST is responsible for developing information security standards and guidelines, including minimum requirements for federal information systems, but such standards and guidelines shall not apply to national security systems without the express approval of appropriate federal officials exercising policy authority over such systems. This guideline is consistent with the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130. Nothing in this publication should be taken to contradict the standards and guidelines made mandatory and binding on federal agencies by the Secretary of Commerce under statutory authority. Nor should these guidelines be interpreted as altering or superseding the existing authorities of the Secretary of Commerce, Director of the OMB, or any other federal official. This publication may be used by nongovernmental organizations on a voluntary basis and is not subject to copyright in the United States.

3 Attribution would, however, be appreciated by NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-57 Part 2 Revision 1 Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 800-57 Part 2, Rev. 1, 91 pages (May 2019) CODEN: NSPUE2 This publication is available free of charge from: Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply Recommendation or endorsement by NIST, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. There may be references in this publication to other publications currently under development by NIST in accordance with its assigned statutory responsibilities. The information in this publication, including concepts and methodologies, may be used by federal agencies even before the completion of such companion publications.

4 Thus, until each publication is completed, current requirements, guidelines, and procedures, where they exist, remain operative. For planning and transition purposes, federal agencies may wish to closely follow the development of these new publications by NIST. Organizations are encouraged to review all draft publications during public comment periods and provide feedback to NIST. Many NIST cybersecurity publications, other than the ones noted above, are available at Comments on this publication may be submitted to: National Institute of Standards and Technology Attn: Computer Security Division, Information Technology Laboratory 100 Bureau Drive (Mail Stop 8930) Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8930 Email: All comments are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). NIST SP 800-57 PT. 2 REV. 1 BEST PRACTICES FOR KEY Management ORGANIZATIONS ii This publication is available free of charge from: Reports on Computer Systems Technology The Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) promotes the economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the Nation s measurement and standards infrastructure.

5 ITL develops tests, test methods, reference data, proof of concept implementations, and technical analyses to advance the development and productive use of information technology. ITL s responsibilities include the development of Management , administrative, technical, and physical standards and guidelines for the cost-effective security and privacy of other than national security-related information in federal information systems. The Special Publication 800-series reports on ITL s research, guidelines, and outreach efforts in information system security, and its collaborative activities with industry, government, and academic organizations. Abstract NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-57 provides cryptographic key Management guidance. It consists of three parts. Part 1 provides general guidance and best practices for the Management of cryptographic keying material. Part 2 provides guidance on policy and security planning requirements.

6 Finally, Part 3 provides guidance when using the cryptographic features of current systems. Part 2 (this document) 1) identifies the concepts, functions and elements common to effective systems for the Management of symmetric and asymmetric keys; 2) identifies the security planning requirements and documentation necessary for effective institutional key Management ; 3) describes Key Management Specification requirements; 4) describes cryptographic Key Management Policy documentation that is needed by organizations that use cryptography; and 5) describes Key Management Practice Statement requirements. Appendices provide examples of some key Management infrastructures and supplemental documentation and planning materials. Keywords authentication; authorization; availability; backup; certification authority; compromise; confidentiality; cryptographic key; cryptographic module; digital signatures; encryption; integrity; inventory Management ; key information; key Management ; cryptographic Key Management Policy; key recovery; private key; public key; public key infrastructure; security plan; symmetric key.

7 Acknowledgements The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) gratefully acknowledges and appreciates contributions by Lydia Zieglar from the National Security Agency and Paul Turner from Venafi concerning the many security issues associated with this Recommendation , and by Tim Polk, Bill Burr, and Miles Smid who co-authored the first edition of this publication. NIST also thanks the many contributors from both the public and private sectors whose thoughtful and constructive comments improved the quality and usefulness of this publication. NIST SP 800-57 PT. 2 REV. 1 BEST PRACTICES FOR KEY Management ORGANIZATIONS iii This publication is available free of charge from: Table of Contents 1. Introduction _____ 1 Scope _____ 2 Audience _____ 3 Background and Rationale _____ 3 Organization _____ 4 Glossary of Terms and Acronyms _____ 5 Glossary _____ 5 Acronyms _____ 19 2 Key- Management Concepts _____ 21 Key Establishment_____ 21 Key- Management Functions _____ 21 cryptographic Key Management Systems (CKMS) _____ 22 Central Oversight Authority _____ 23 Key-Processing Facility(ies) _____ 23 Service Agents _____ 25 Client Nodes _____ 25 Tokens _____ 26 Public Key Infrastructure Environments _____ 26 Symmetric Key Environments _____ 26 Hierarchies and Meshes _____ 27 Centralized vs.

8 Decentralized Infrastructures _____ 27 Available Automated Key Management Schemes and Protocols _____ 28 General Design Requirements for CKMS _____ 29 Trust _____ 29 Revocation and Suspension _____ 29 3 Key Management Planning _____ 31 Background _____ 31 Select SP 800-53 Controls _____ 32 IT System Examination _____ 32 Key Management Planning _____ 32 Key Management Planning Process _____ 33 Key Management Planning Information Requirements _____ 34 4 Key Management Specification _____ 39 Key Management Specification Content _____ 41 cryptographic Application _____ 41 Communications Environment _____ 41 Key Management Metadata Requirements _____ 42 Keying Material Generation _____ 42 Keying Material Distribution_____ 43 Key Information Storage_____ 43 Access Control _____ 43 Accounting and Auditing_____ 44 Recovery from Compromise, Corruption, or Loss of Keying Material _____ 47 NIST SP 800-57 PT.

9 2 REV. 1 BEST PRACTICES FOR KEY Management ORGANIZATIONS iv This publication is available free of charge from: Key Recovery _____ 47 5 CKMS Security Policy _____ 48 Policy Content _____ 49 General Policy Content Requirements _____ 50 Security Objectives _____ 51 Organizational Responsibilities _____ 51 Sample CKMS SP Format _____ 53 Policy Enforcement _____ 57 6 CKMS Practices Statement (CKMS PS) _____ 58 Alternative Practice Statement Formats _____ 58 Stand-Alone Practice Statement _____ 58 Certification Practices Statement_____ 59 Common CKMS PS Content _____ 59 Association of CKMS PS with the CKMS Security Policy _____ 59 Identification of Responsible Entities and Contact Information _____ 59 Key Generation and/or Certificate Issuance _____ 59 Key Agreement _____ 60 Agreements Between Key Processing Centers _____ 60 Key Establishment, Suspension and Revocation Structures _____ 60 Establishment of Cryptoperiods _____ 61 Tracking of and Accounting for Keying Material _____ 61 Protection of Key Information _____ 62 Suspension and Revocation of Keying Material _____ 62 Auditing _____ 63 Key Destruction _____ 63 Key Backup.

10 Archiving and Recovery _____ 63 Compromise Recovery _____ 64 Policy Violation Consequences _____ 64 Documentation _____ 64 Appendix A CKMS Examples _____ 65 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) _____ 65 Central Oversight Authority _____ 65 Certification Authority (CA) _____ 66 Registration Authority (RA) _____ 66 Subscriber's Client Node and Token _____ 66 PKI Hierarchical Structures and Meshes _____ 66 Key Centers_____ 67 Key Distribution Center (KDC) Architecture _____ 67 Key Translation Center (KTC) Architecture _____ 68 Appendix B Key Management Inserts for Security Plan Templates _____ 70 Appendix C Key Management Specification Checklist for cryptographic Product Development _____ 75 Appendix D References _____ 76 Appendix E Revisions _____ 84 NIST SP 800-57 PT. 2 REV. 1 BEST PRACTICES FOR KEY Management ORGANIZATIONS 1 This publication is available free of charge from: 1. Introduction cryptographic mechanisms are often used to protect the integrity and confidentiality of data that is sensitive, has a high value, or is vulnerable to unauthorized disclosure or undetected modification during transmission or while in storage.