---
title: "Fortanix DSM with ShardSecure"
slug: "fortanix-dsm-with-shardsecure"
updated: 2026-07-27T16:30:21Z
published: 2026-07-27T16:30:21Z
canonical: "support.fortanix.com/fortanix-dsm-with-shardsecure"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.fortanix.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Fortanix DSM with ShardSecure

## 1.0 Introduction

This article describes how to integrate **Fortanix-Data-Security-Manager (DSM)** with **ShardSecure**.

## 2.0 Prerequisites

Download and install Fortanix DSM PKCS#11 library. *For more information, refer to* [*Clients: PKCS#11 Library*](/v1/docs/clients-pkcs11-library).

## 3.0 Configure Fortanix DSM

A Fortanix DSM service must be configured, and the URL must be accessible. To create a Fortanix DSM account and group, refer to the following sections:

### 3.1 Signing Up

To get started with the Fortanix DSM cloud service, you must register an account at <Your_DSM_Service_URL>. For example, [https://amer.smartkey.io.](https://amer.smartkey.io.) On-premises customers use the KMS URL, and the SaaS customers can use the URLs as listed [*here*](https://support.fortanix.com/hc/en-us/articles/4406135346068-Fortanix-DSM-SaaS-Global-Availability-Map) based on the application region.

*For more information on how to set up the Fortanix DSM, refer to the* [*Sign Up for Fortanix Data Security Manager SaaS*](https://support.fortanix.com/docs/users-guide-sign-up-for-fortanix-data-security-manager-saas)*.*

### 3.2 Creating an Account

Access <Your_DSM_Service_URL> in a web browser and enter your credentials to log in to Fortanix DSM.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/c3bd85d2-4ad8-4d85-9f60-f1c168a3aad9/Images/Documentation/DSM_SaaS_Login_page(15).png)

**Figure 1: Logging in**

*For more information on how to set up an account in Fortanix DSM, refer to the* [*Getting Started with Fortanix Data Security Manager - UI*](https://support.fortanix.com/docs/users-guide-getting-started-with-fortanix-data-security-manager-ui)*.*

### 3.3 Creating a Group

Perform the following steps to create a group in the Fortanix DSM:

1. In the DSM left navigation panel, click the **Groups** menu item, and then click **ADD GROUP** to create a new group.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/c3bd85d2-4ad8-4d85-9f60-f1c168a3aad9/Images/Documentation/Add-Group(27).png)

**Figure 2: Add groups**
2. On the **Adding new group** page:
  1. **Title**: Enter a name for your group.
  2. **Description** (optional): Enter a short description of the group.
3. Click **SAVE** to create the new group.

*For more information about groups, refer to* [*Definitions*](/v1/docs/dsm-definitions#40-groups)*.*

> [!NOTE]
> TIP
> 
> It is recommended to configure a **Key undo policy** for groups for the cryptographic keys used by the application before creating or using the keys. Without a configured **Key undo policy**, key deletion is permanent and the deleted key cannot be recovered. Deleting an encryption key may result in permanent loss of access to the protected data and service disruption for applications that depend on the deleted key. *For detailed steps, refer to* [*Key Undo Policy*](/v1/docs/fortanix-dsm-key-undo-policy)*.*

### 3.4 Creating an Application

Perform the following steps to create an application (app) in the Fortanix DSM:

1. In the DSM left navigation panel, click the **Apps** menu item, and then click **ADD APP** to create a new app.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/c3bd85d2-4ad8-4d85-9f60-f1c168a3aad9/Images/Documentation/Add-App(25).png)

**Figure 3: Add application**
2. On the **Adding new app** page:
  1. **App name**: Enter the name for your application.
  2. **ADD DESCRIPTION** (optional): Enter a short description of the application.
  3. **Authentication method**: Select the default **API Key** as the authentication method from the drop down menu. *For more information on these authentication methods, refer to the* [*User's Guide: Authentication*](https://support.fortanix.com/docs/users-guide-authentication)*.*
  4. **Assigning the new app to groups**: Select the group created in [*Section 3.3: Creating a Group*](/v1/docs/using-fortanix-data-security-manager-with-shardsecure#33-creating-a-group)[](/v1/docs/using-data-security-manager-with-idcentral-key-management#43-creating-a-group)from the list.
3. Click **SAVE** to add the new application.

*For more information about applications, refer to* [*Definitions*](https://support.fortanix.com/docs/dsm-definitions#50-applications)*.*

### 3.5 Copying the API Key

Perform the following steps to copy the API key from the Fortanix DSM:

1. In the DSM left navigation panel, click the **Apps** menu item, and then click the app created in [*Section 3.4: Creating an Application*](/v1/docs/using-fortanix-data-security-manager-with-shardsecure#34-creating-an-application) [](/v1/docs/using-data-security-manager-with-idcentral-key-management#44-creating-an-application)to go to the detailed view of the app.
2. On the **INFO** tab, click **VIEW API KEY DETAILS**.
3. From the **API Key Details** dialog box, copy the **API Key** of the app to use for `shardsecure.cluster.encryption.hsm.password` parameter in the `application.properties` configuration.

### 3.6 Creating a Security Object

Perform the following steps to generate an AES key in the Fortanix DSM:

1. In the DSM left navigation panel, click the**Security Objects** menu item, and then click **ADD SECURITY OBJECT** to create a new security object.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/c3bd85d2-4ad8-4d85-9f60-f1c168a3aad9/Images/Documentation/Add-SO(10).png)

**Figure 4: Adding security object**
2. On the**Add new Security Object** page:
  1. **Security Object Name**: Enter the name for your security object. For example, **cluster.master.key**.
  2. **Group**: Select the group as created in [*Section 3.3: Creating a Group*](/v1/docs/using-fortanix-data-security-manager-with-shardsecure#33-creating-a-group).
  3. Select **GENERATE**.
  4. In the **Choose a type** section, select the **AES** key type.
  5. In the **Key Size** section, select the size of the key in bits. Keep it as **256** bits.
  6. In the **Key operations permitted** section, select all the operations to define the actions that can be performed with the cryptographic keys, except **Export**.
3. Click**GENERATE**to create the new security object.

*For more information about security objects, refer to* [*Definitions*](https://support.fortanix.com/docs/dsm-definitions#60-security-objects)*.*

## 4.0 Create a Configuration File for PKCS#11

Perform the following steps to create a new configuration file for PKCS#11:

1. Create a new configuration file for the Fortanix DSM PKCS#11 configuration.
2. Place the configuration file in the ShardSecure configuration directory.
3. Add the name of this file to properties as the parameter `shardsecure.cluster.encryption.hsm.configfile`. For example, `shardsecure.cluster.encryption.hsm.configfile=fortanix.cfg`. In this example, the Fortanix PKCS#11 module has been installed at the path `/opt/fortanix/pkcs11/fortanix_pkcs11.so`.

The slot number is not critical in the Fortanix configuration, and you may leave it as displayed in the following example:

```bash
name = FortanixHSM
library = /opt/fortanix/pkcs11/fortanix_pkcs11.so
slot = 0
attributes(generate, *, *) = {
   CKA_TOKEN = true
}
attributes(*, CKO_CERTIFICATE, *) = {
   CKA_PRIVATE = false
}
attributes(*, CKO_PUBLIC_KEY, *) = {
   CKA_PRIVATE = false
}
```

Fortanix Data Security Manager (DSM) is the world’s first cloud service secured with Intel® SGX. With Fortanix DSM, you can securely generate, store, and use cryptographic keys and certificates, as well as other secrets such as passwords, API keys, tokens, or any blob of data. Your business-critical applications and containers can integrate with Fortanix DSM using legacy cryptographic interfaces (PKCS#11, CNG, and JCE) or using the native Fortanix DSM RESTful interface.

## Related

- [Fortanix DSM with Nutanix](/fortanix-dsm-with-nutanix.md)