hardware security module (HSM)

An appliance that stores sensitive credentials or private keys in hardware-protected memory. An HSM is FIPS-140-2 level 3-compliant, with provisions for tamper evidence and tamper prevention. It also provides hardware-based acceleration for cryptographic operations such as signing, and encryption. It is used with Itron products, such as Critical Operations Protector for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (COP for AMI).