CloudKMS

CloudKMS, or Cloud Key Management Service, is a fully managed service on Google Cloud Platform that lets organizations create, store, and manage cryptographic keys and perform cryptographic operations at scale. It provides centralized key management for encryption and digital signatures, allowing key material to be rotated, disabled, enabled, or destroyed without on‑premises hardware or custom software. It integrates with Google Cloud services and external applications via APIs.

Key concepts include key rings, key versions, and key types. CloudKMS supports symmetric keys (AES-256) and asymmetric keys (RSA and EC) for Encrypt/Decrypt and Sign/Verify. Operations are available through REST or gRPC APIs and client libraries. Keys can be rotated automatically or manually. Importing existing key material is supported, enabling customers to bring in CMKs (customer-managed keys) for use with CMEK-enabled services.

Security and governance are provided through IAM-based access control and Cloud Audit Logs that record key management events. Keys are stored in customer-chosen regions to meet residency requirements. CMEK enables Google Cloud services to encrypt data at rest with customer-controlled keys, while Cloud KMS can integrate with other services to apply consistent key management across an organization.

Common use cases include protecting data at rest in Google Cloud services, securing API credentials, and providing centralized key lifecycle management. CloudKMS aims to reduce operational overhead and support compliance by offering scalable, auditable, and policy-driven key management without building an on-premises key infrastructure.