AWS Key Management Service
AWS Key Management Service (KMS) is a managed service that makes it easy to create and control cryptographic keys used to encrypt data across AWS services and in applications. It provides centralized key management, integrates with AWS CloudTrail for auditing, and supports both symmetric and asymmetric encryption. KMS keys are hardware security module (HSM)-protected and can be used to encrypt data at rest and in transit.
Developers should use AWS KMS when building secure applications on AWS that require encryption, such as storing sensitive data in S3, encrypting database volumes in RDS, or securing API keys. It's essential for compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, as it simplifies key lifecycle management and provides audit trails. Use cases include encrypting application secrets, enabling envelope encryption for large datasets, and implementing customer-managed keys for enhanced control.