How Fortanix DSM and Azure Key Vault differ on scope, key custody, deployment and cost.
| Fortanix DSM | Azure Key Vault | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Confidential computing KMS | Cloud KMS |
| Scope | Keys, secrets, tokenisation | Keys, secrets, certificates |
| Deployment | SaaS + on-premise | SaaS (Azure) |
| Key custody | Intel SGX enclaves; FIPS 140-2 Level 3 | Premium tier: FIPS 140-2 Level 2/3 HSMs; Managed HSM available |
| How it works | Data Security Manager runs key operations inside confidential-computing enclaves rather than conventional HSM appliances, presenting one key management plane across multiple clouds and on-premise. Also covers tokenisation and, increasingly, post-quantum readiness. | One service holding three different things: cryptographic keys, arbitrary secrets and TLS certificates. Standard is software-protected, Premium is HSM-backed, and Managed HSM gives a single-tenant pool. Certificate lifecycle is included, which the other clouds keep separate. |
| Pricing* | Enterprise quote | Metered per operation; Premium adds HSM |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Licence | — | — |
| Best for | Multi-cloud estates with strict key custody | Microsoft-centric estates |
Choose Fortanix DSM for multi-cloud estates with strict key custody. Choose Azure Key Vault for microsoft-centric estates.
* Published list pricing (vendor pricing pages, August 2026).