Today, nearly every business needs to meet at least one set of data security compliance regulations, if not more. Regulations such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA-HITECH, and GLBA/FFIEC recommend if not outright require companies collecting sensitive data to secure that data using encryption and encryption key management. Most solution integrators are aware of this, but they may not know what to look for in a third party key management vendor to partner with.

The key management vendor you chose to partner with should provide you with all services you need to integrate key management into your solution easily. If you're a solution integrator, a third party key management vendor should provide you with:

1. Technology. Does your key management partner provide you with all of adequate hardware, software, encryption libraries, and tools you need to easily deploy encryption and key management on your customers' networks?

2. Certifications. Certifications are crucial to meeting government and industry data security requirements. Is your key management partner’s solution FIPS 140-2 certified? What is the certificate number? Do they use NIST-certified AES encryption?

3. Training. Does your partner provide you with adequate training to tools such as walk-through instruction and training videos to help you implement encryption key management with ease?

4. Platform Compatibility. Does your partner support all of your customers' legacy platforms such as IBM, Microsoft, or Oracle, including newer and older versions?

5. Client Side Support. Does your partner supply you with all of the sample code, binary libraries, applications, key retrieval and other tools you need to implement encryption and key management fast and easily? Do they charge client-side licenses? (Note: Townsend Security never charges for client-side support.)

6. Marketing Collateral. Does your partner provide you with strong sales and marketing material to help you promote and provide credibility to the product?

7. Knowledge of Compliance Regulations. Does your partner know how their solutions will help your customers meet compliance regulations such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA-HITECH, and GLBA/FFIEC?

8. Virtual and Cloud Environment Capabilities. Your customers may be storing their data "in-house", but if they want to move to the cloud, can your key management partner  move with them?

9. Scalable Solutions. Many customers of SIs are small and medium sized businesses with the same data security needs as larger enterprises. Can your key management scale to meet the needs of the SMB market?

10. A Supportive Business Relationship. Does your partner understand your competitive and pricing challenges? Will your partner work with you to craft a solution that will keep your price competitive, or will they just give you a price and walk away?

11. A Win-Win relationship. Will the partnership create new business and generate new revenue for both parties?

Townsend Security is a third party encryption and key management provider of NIST-certified AES encryption and and FIPS 140-2 certified key management systems. With over 25 years of experience helping companies protect data and meet compliance requirements, Townsend Security can help you do the same.

To learn more about partnering with Townsend Security, contact us now. To learn more about AES Encryption and encryption key management, download our White Paper  "AES Encryption and Related Concepts."