AWS Key Management Service vs Google Cloud KMS: Which Key Management Service is Better?
Encryption is one of the most effective ways to secure data, and this is where Key Management Services come into play. Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud both offer Key Management Services to help users secure their data. In this post, we will compare AWS Key Management Service (KMS) with Google Cloud KMS to help you choose the right option for your organization!
What are AWS Key Management Service and Google Cloud KMS?
Before we dive into the comparison, let's first understand what these services offer.
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AWS Key Management Service (KMS): It is a managed service that makes it easy to create and control encryption keys for their applications and workloads which are manually generated, never leaving the customers’ control. Users can manage and protect their encryption keys with their existing AWS Key Management Service workflows.
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Google Cloud KMS: It is a cloud-hosted key management system that allows users to generate, use, rotate, and destroy cryptographic keys in the cloud. Like AWS KMS, Google Cloud KMS offers different mechanisms to manage and protect your keys.
Key Features Comparison
Usability and Scalability
Both AWS KMS and Google Cloud KMS are highly flexible when it comes to scalability. They can scale up or down based on the changing business requirements of the users. However, AWS KMS stands out in usability because it offers intuitive and flexible APIs that can be easily integrated with other AWS services.
Performance
When it comes to performance comparisons, users will notice key differences between the two services. Google Cloud KMS is more suitable for users working in Google Cloud Platform (GCP), whereas AWS KMS is best suited for users working with the Amazon Web Services.
Cost
AWS KMS offers one of the lowest prices in the market, at $1/month per key. On the other hand, Google Cloud KMS charges higher rates starting from $1.13/month per key. The key prices vary depending on the type of keys, use cases, and regions.
Accessibility
AWS KMS is more accessible on a global level because Amazon Web Services is available across the world. Google Cloud, on the other hand, is less diverse in terms of regional reach as it currently has only 8 regions.
Which Key Management Service is Better: AWS KMS or Google Cloud KMS?
After analyzing the features of both services, it is clear that both have their pros and cons. AWS KMS users highly benefit from a lower cost structure and a more diverse geographic reach while GCP users will prefer Google Cloud KMS for better performance and flexibility. Ultimately, choosing the right service will depend on which cloud provider you use, your business requirements, and the scale in which you intend to use the service.