What is the function of a Hardware Security Module (HSM) in an organization's cryptographic infrastructure?

A Hardware Security Module, or HSM, is a dedicated physical computing device designed specifically to protect and manage digital keys used for encryption, authentication, and digital signatures. The primary function of an HSM is to ensure the cryptographic material never leaves the secure, tamper-resistant boundary of the hardware, preventing exposure to external threats or unauthorized access. Cryptography is the practice of securing information by transforming it into unreadable code, and digital keys are the specific pieces of data used....