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Payment Remote Key Loading for Secure Transactions

Remote configuration and key loading for any payment solution

remote key loading

Financial Key Loading for Safe Payment Processing

Encryption keys are crucial in our daily lives, notably in the payments industry. When presenting a payment card at a Point of Sale (POS) terminal or using an ATM, encryption keys swiftly encrypt the PIN or primary account number (PAN), safeguarding the data from theft during transmission to the card issuer for validation. Securely loading encryption keys into endpoint devices, such as ATMs or POS terminals, ensures the effectiveness of this process, enhancing security in payment transactions.

Efficient Key Management for POS and ATMs

This process historically involved manual key injection at a facility, where administrators injected each POS terminal and PIN entry device. However, it's time-consuming and costly, requiring upfront expenses for maintaining a PCI Level 3 key injection facility (KIF) and operational costs for shipping devices. Administrators often travel to load encryption keys into larger devices like ATMs and gas station payment terminals, resulting in significant operational expenses and a heightened risk of human error for organizations with widespread ATM or POS networks.

Secure and Efficient RKL Techniques

Certificate-Based RKL (Using RSA Key Exchange)

Certificate-Based RKL (Using RSA Key Exchange)

Certificate-based RSA PKI is the primary method for secure RKL communication, employing asymmetric cryptography to authenticate recipients and facilitate secure key exchanges between ATMs, POS terminals, and the RKL platform. Endorsed by ASC X9 and outlined in TR-34, this protocol ensures standardized and secure encryption key management in the financial services industry.

Signature-Based remote key loading (RKL)

Signature-Based RKL

Signature-based cryptography, favored in older ATM networks, encrypts keys with digital signatures before transmission, offering simplicity and reduced data transfer, particularly suitable for dial-up connections.

symmetric key remote key loading (RKL)

Symmetric Key RKL

Some manufacturers inject keys into their own devices before deployment. In this symmetric key RKL model, the certificate establishment is skipped by integrating the initial symmetric key injection into the manufacturing process. While it is not as prevalent as certificate-based RKL, it is still used by many organizations.

Selecting the Ideal Payment RKL Solution

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Effectiveness and efficiency

Some organizations may prefer remote key loading (RKL) over direct injection for its cost-effectiveness and efficiency. RKL allows a remote key server to securely distribute encryption keys to devices without physical access. This capability enables remote rekeying in the field, saving time and money.

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Centralized location

RKL allows organizations to manage keys for an entire infrastructure by sending cryptographically secure key exchanges from a centralized location. Better yet, devices can be rekeyed instantaneously with minimal downtime. Gone are the costs associated with maintaining an injection facility and manual injection.

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Trust at both ends of the key exchange

Successful RKL operations depend on collaboration and standardized communication between device manufacturers and RKL providers. Trust is crucial, established through digital certificates provided by a certificate authority for both the device and RKL platform. Manufacturers ensure devices have these certificates before deployment.

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Integration with multiple manufacturers

Endpoint devices and RKL providers need compatible communication and encryption protocols, emphasizing the manufacturer's role. TR-34 is a common standard, but others vary based on factors like manufacturer and location. RKL platforms should accommodate integration with multiple manufacturers.

Remote Key Loading Use Cases for Payment Systems

atm remote key loading

Automated Teller Machines (ATM)

ATMs, vital for cash withdrawals by millions annually, rely on network protection and PIN encryption to secure transactions. Regular rotation of encryption keys is essential for compliance and security, previously done manually but now facilitated by remote key loading (RKL), meeting PCI DSS regulations efficiently.

Point of Sale (POS) Terminals

POS terminals perform dual encryption tasks, securing both PINs for debit transactions and primary account numbers (PANs) for credit card payments, a practice increasingly standard despite not being mandated by PCI DSS regulations. PAN encryption, often via Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE), is crucial due to past breaches. Both encryption types rely on separate encryption keys, typically accommodated in most POS terminals.

point of sale (POS) terminal remote key loading
cryptographic techniques for financial remote key loading

Cryptographic Techniques for Financial Remote Key Loading

For the endpoint device (whether an ATM, Point of Sale terminal, or IoT device) to receive symmetric encryption keys for PAN or PIN encryption, it must first establish a secure connection with the remote key platform. PKI is a form of asymmetric cryptography where the sender and receiver use public and private keys to decrypt messages and verify each other’s identity. PKI allows the endpoint device and the RKL platform to verify each other’s identities and securely exchange keys.

Comprehensive Remote Key Loading by Futurex

Futurex is the industry’s only single-vendor provider of complete cryptographic payment security infrastructure. Many of Futurex’s most essential services, like PIN encryption and validation, P2PE, and tokenization, rely on secure and compliant key management.

In response to the growing demand for RKL within the financial services industry, Futurex has developed the most robust RKL solutions. Whether choosing cloud functionality through VirtuCrypt, on-premises hardware through Futurex or combining both, each solution has the functionality needed to build a comprehensive, single-vendor solution for all cryptographic processes related to financial services and payment processing.

On-Premises Hardware Solution: the CryptoHub Platform

Futurex's CryptoHub Platform offers advanced solutions for a comprehensive key management system tailored for POS and ATM encryption key management. It boasts rigorous compliance with security standards, such as FIPS 140-2 Level 3 and PCI HSM, and provides flexibility in automation levels, supporting integration with various programming languages via its API.

Cloud Solution: the VirtuCrypt Cloud Payments Platform

Futurex's VirtuCrypt Hardened Enterprise Security Cloud offers cryptographic services "as-a-service," including key loading solutions. Using Futurex hardware, VirtuCrypt ensures FIPS 140-2 Level 3 and PCI HSM compliance. Through VirtuCrypt Elements RKL Service, key distribution is securely automated over a secure IP network. VirtuCrypt encrypts sensitive data in compliant devices within secure data centers. The VirtuCrypt Intelligence Portal (VIP) Dashboard provides centralized management, allowing secure communication with Futurex devices, key management, and audit log access.

Featured Resources

"Implementing cloud-based remote key loading through VirtuCrypt has enabled us to radically streamline the deployment and maintenance of our payment devices across a whole range of geographic markets and customer use cases.”

 

- Darren Shaw,
Chief Product Officer

Miura Systems

Enterprise Data Encryption Solutions

Futurex provides HSMs and key management servers that handle encryption, bring-your-own-key (BYOK). Futurex helps enterprise organizations deploy a modern cloud data security environment that complies with the latest standards and regulations.

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