Strengthen your data security and compliance through the use of Key Vault. Effective key management is crucial for safeguarding cloud data. Implement Azure Key Vault to encrypt keys and manage small secrets such as passwords that utilize keys stored in hardware security modules (HSMs). For enhanced security, you have the option to either import or generate keys within HSMs, while Microsoft ensures that your keys are processed in FIPS validated HSMs, adhering to standards like FIPS 140-2 Level 2 for vaults and FIPS 140-2 Level 3 for HSM pools. Importantly, with Key Vault, Microsoft does not have access to or extract your keys. Additionally, you can monitor and audit your key usage through Azure logging, allowing you to channel logs into Azure HDInsight or integrate with your security information and event management (SIEM) solution for deeper analysis and improved threat detection capabilities. This comprehensive approach not only enhances security but also ensures that your data remains compliant with industry standards.