Crypto Inventory and Crypto Agility – a Strong Basis for Corporate Security
Secure and agile cryptography for your organization
Cryptography is crucial for protecting sensitive data, securing digital transactions and meeting compliance requirements. The efficient administration of encryption technologies and crypto artifacts such as digital certificates and key material is at the heart of any IT security strategy.
What is a crypto inventory?
The crypto inventory is the central point of contact for all topics, to-do’s and processes related to cryptography. It includes and lists all cryptographic assets of a company, such as
- digital certificates
- cryptographic keys
- algorithms and hash algorithms used
- affected applications
A good and complete crypto inventory enables IT security managers and administrators to remain operational.
Advantages and added value of a crypto inventory
A complete and up-to-date inventory
- offers transparency, structure and orientation
- avoids security gaps
- ensures compliance with compliance regulations and data protection rules
- facilitates the administration and updating of cryptographic systems
- enables rapid action in the event of cyber threats
- ensures continuity of business operations
The crypto inventory lists crypto assets (digital certificates and key material) and reflects the cryptographic state of the IT systems (certificate status such as validity, expiration date, CA, key strength, key age, etc.).
Data timeliness
Regular scans and validations should be carried out to ensure that the latest status is available when needed. Tools such as essendi cd and essendi xc provide support for the regular and automated search for and management of unknown keys and certificates.
What is crypto-agility?
Crypto-agility refers to the ability to promptly adapt cryptographic systems to new security standards, threats or regulatory requirements and to change crypto assets, encryption methods and procedures.
This can be important if, for example, an algorithm has become insecure because computers have become more powerful. Concrete examples are the discontinuation of RSA-2048 by the BSI (German Federal Office for Information Security) as of January 2024 or the development of a quantum computer.
Key aspects of crypto-agility
Flexibility: Fast implementation of new algorithms.
Adaptability: Timely update of existing systems.
Resilience: Effective response to security incidents and loss of trust.
Business Continuity: Fast recovery in the event of necessary certificate changes.
The more diverse and complex the existing IT infrastructure, the greater the challenges for the successful implementation of a high degree of crypto-agility.
The biggest drivers for companies in the area of crypto-agility
1. Shorter validity periods for certificates
Certificates must be renewed at shorter intervals, for example every 90 days for TLS certificates.
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2. Rapid change of certification authorities (CAs)
Necessary, for example, due to changes in business processes or loss of trust in the CA
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3. Upgrade of algorithms, e.g. from RSA to ECC or from RSA / ECC to PQC
Increasingly powerful hardware (computers/servers) requires increasingly powerful encryption methods
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Best practices for your crypto management
Professionalize your crypto processes and save time through monitoring and automation.
The essendi xc product family is your proven tool set for handling cryptography.
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essendi xc – Certificate Management
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essendi cd – Certificate Discovery
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Turn challenges into opportunities: Effective crypto management with essendi xc tool support
Cost reduction: Reduced manual effort and better resource utilization.
Risk minimization: Quick adjustments prevent security incidents, financial losses and protect the company’s reputation.
Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements and building trust with customers and partners.
Strengthening competitiveness: Rapid implementation of innovative solutions and flexibility in the face of market changes.
Ensuring business continuity: Maintaining the ability to act. Rapid recovery after changes or transformations in ongoing operations is possible and manageable.
Optimize your crypto strategy
essendi xc and essendi cd: Your strong team for crypto inventory and crypto agility
essendi xc
- Save time and avoid errors with automated certificate management
- Proactive notifications and transparency thanks to comprehensive monitoring
- Crypto agility and scalability through flexible customization options at all times
- Regulatory compliance and current security standards are guaranteed
- Crypto inventory always up to date
- Diverse filtering and clustering options ensure easy identification and monitoring
- Data structuring and standards ensure transparency and the ability to act
essendi cd
- Complete overview of digital certificates and keys
- Powerful search algorithms scan all file systems and find hidden certificates
- Time savings and lower process costs through automated searches
Contact us for a LiveDemo of essendi xc or an analysis of how crypto agility can be implemented in your company.