pinkpixel-dev/implementing-envelope-encryption-with-aws-kms
SKILLS/implementing-envelope-encryption-with-aws-kms/SKILL.md
Envelope encryption is a strategy where data is encrypted with a data encryption key (DEK), and the DEK itself is encrypted with a master key (KEK) managed by AWS KMS. This approach allows encrypting
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SKILL.md
- name:
- implementing-envelope-encryption-with-aws-kms
- description:
- Envelope encryption is a strategy where data is encrypted with a data encryption key (DEK), and the DEK itself is encrypted with a master key (KEK) managed by AWS KMS. This approach allows encrypting
- domain:
- cybersecurity
- subdomain:
- cryptography
- tags:
- [cryptography, encryption, aws, kms, envelope-encryption, key-management]
- version:
- 1.0
- author:
- mahipal
- license:
- Apache-2.0
Implementing Envelope Encryption with AWS KMS
Overview
Envelope encryption is a strategy where data is encrypted with a data encryption key (DEK), and the DEK itself is encrypted with a master key (KEK) managed by AWS KMS. This approach allows encrypting large volumes of data locally while keeping the master key secure in a hardware security module (HSM) managed by AWS. This skill covers implementing envelope encryption using AWS KMS GenerateDataKey API.
When to Use
- When deploying or configuring implementing envelope encryption with aws kms capabilities in your environment
- When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements
- When building or improving security architecture for this domain
- When conducting security assessments that require this implementation
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with cryptography concepts and tools
- Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
- Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
- Appropriate authorization for any testing activities
Objectives
- Understand the envelope encryption pattern and its advantages
- Generate data encryption keys using AWS KMS GenerateDataKey
- Encrypt/decrypt data locally using DEKs
- Store encrypted DEK alongside ciphertext
- Implement key caching to reduce KMS API calls
- Handle key rotation with automatic re-encryption
- Implement multi-region encryption for disaster recovery
Key Concepts
Envelope Encryption Flow
- Call
kms:GenerateDataKeyto get plaintext DEK + encrypted DEK - Use plaintext DEK to encrypt data locally (AES-256-GCM)
- Store encrypted DEK alongside ciphertext
- Discard plaintext DEK from memory
- For decryption: call
kms:Decrypton encrypted DEK, then decrypt data
Advantages Over Direct KMS Encryption
| Aspect | Direct KMS | Envelope Encryption | |--------|-----------|-------------------| | Max data size | 4 KB | Unlimited | | Latency | Network round-trip per operation | Local encryption | | Cost | $0.03/10,000 requests | Fewer KMS requests | | Offline | Not possible | Yes (with cached DEKs) |
KMS Key Types
- AWS Managed: AWS creates and manages (
aws/s3,aws/ebs) - Customer Managed: You create and manage policies
- Custom Key Store: Backed by CloudHSM cluster
Security Considerations
- Never store plaintext DEK; only keep encrypted DEK
- Use key policies to restrict who can call GenerateDataKey and Decrypt
- Enable AWS CloudTrail logging for all KMS API calls
- Implement key rotation (automatic annual rotation for CMKs)
- Use encryption context for authenticated encryption metadata
- Handle KMS throttling with exponential backoff
Validation Criteria
- [ ] GenerateDataKey returns plaintext and encrypted DEK
- [ ] Data encrypts correctly with plaintext DEK using AES-256-GCM
- [ ] Encrypted DEK can be decrypted via KMS Decrypt API
- [ ] Decrypted DEK recovers the original data
- [ ] Plaintext DEK is wiped from memory after use
- [ ] Encryption context is validated during decryption
- [ ] Key rotation re-encrypts DEKs with new master key
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