AWS KMS vs Azure Key Vault vs Google Cloud KMS
Overview
Cloud-native applications rely on encryption and key management to secure sensitive data, enforce compliance, and enable zero-trust models. Each major cloud provider offers a native Key Management Service (KMS):
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AWS KMS (Key Management Service)
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Azure Key Vault (Key Management Layer)
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Google Cloud KMS
This article provides an expert-level comparison across encryption, key rotation, access control, integrations, HSM support, performance, and pricing.
Core Capabilities
| Feature | AWS KMS | Azure Key Vault | Google Cloud KMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Types | Symmetric & Asymmetric | Symmetric & Asymmetric | Symmetric & Asymmetric |
| Key Storage Options | KMS + HSM-backed CMKs | Standard Vault / HSM-backed Vault | Software / HSM / External |
| Key Rotation | Auto or Manual (1-year auto) | Manual or automated (via policy) | Automatic or Manual (user-defined) |
| Integration with Services | Native integration with 75+ AWS services | Azure services & Microsoft 365 | BigQuery, GCS, Compute, GKE |
| Audit Logging | AWS CloudTrail | Azure Monitor & Activity Logs | Cloud Audit Logs |
Architecture & Security
| Feature | AWS KMS | Azure Key Vault | Google Cloud KMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSM-backed Key Store | Yes (FIPS 140-2 validated) | Yes (Premium tier = HSM) | Yes (Cloud HSM option) |
| Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) | Yes (upload external key material) | Yes (multiple import formats) | Yes |
| External Key Manager (EKM) | Yes (AWS XKS) | Azure Managed HSM + Key Vault Managed Identity | Yes (EKM integration) |
| Multi-region Keys | Yes (multi-region replication) | Not directly supported | Supported |
| Envelope Encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Advanced Capabilities
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AWS KMS:
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CMKs (Customer Managed Keys), AWS Managed Keys, and XKS (external).
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FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSMs via AWS CloudHSM.
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Envelope encryption widely adopted by AWS services.
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Grant-based access control for fine-grained sharing.
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Azure Key Vault:
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Centralized key store + secrets + certificates.
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Managed HSM supports compliance-grade isolation.
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Role-based access control via Azure AD.
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Key auto-rotation with event-triggered automation.
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Google Cloud KMS:
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Key rings and keys organized by location.
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Cloud HSM and External Key Manager support.
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Fine-grained IAM policies + resource-level permissions.
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Tightly integrated with VPC Service Controls and CMEK.
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Use Case Scenario
A healthcare provider handling patient data across cloud platforms needs strict encryption-at-rest with audit logging and external key control:
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AWS: KMS-backed encryption for S3, RDS, Lambda, EBS, and Athena. External keys via AWS XKS.
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Azure: Azure Key Vault for managing encryption keys and app secrets; integration with Microsoft 365 for secure document handling.
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Google Cloud: Uses CMEK with GCS and BigQuery, combines Cloud HSM and VPC Service Controls to protect sensitive workloads.
Performance & Compliance
| Metric | AWS KMS | Azure Key Vault | Google Cloud KMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Request Latency (Avg) | ~250ms for encryption API | ~300ms | ~200ms |
| FIPS 140-2 Compliance | Yes (Level 2, Level 3 via CloudHSM) | Yes (Premium) | Yes (Cloud HSM) |
| Access Model | IAM policies + Grants | RBAC + Azure AD Identity | IAM + Conditions |
| Secrets and Cert Management | Separate in AWS Secrets Manager | Included in Key Vault | Available via Secret Manager |
Pricing Models
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AWS KMS:
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$1 per CMK/month + $0.03 per 10,000 requests.
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CloudHSM priced separately.
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XKS setup incurs additional cost for integration.
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Azure Key Vault:
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Standard Vault: ~$0.03 per 10,000 operations.
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Premium HSM: $1.50/key/month + op charges.
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Google Cloud KMS:
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~$0.06 per 10,000 requests.
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HSM key: $1/key/month; External key usage charges apply.
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Disclaimer
This article is independently developed and not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). All service names, prices, and descriptions are based on publicly available sources as of June 2025 and may change.
