Question

Which of the following functions does a network hardware security module NOT perform?

a. Key exchange
b. Key management
c. Fingerprint authentication
d. Random number generator

Answer 1

A network hardware security module does not perform fingerprint authentication; it is mainly involved in key management, key exchange, and generating random numbers.

Step-by-step explanation:

A network hardware security module (HSM) is a physical device that provides security for the processing of cryptographic functions. Among the functions it performs are key management, which involves the secure handling of cryptographic keys, key exchange, which refers to securely exchanging cryptographic keys between entities, and serving as a random number generator to create secure keys. However, it does not typically perform fingerprint authentication as this is often a feature of biometric security systems, which are distinct from network HSMs. The primary role of an HSM is to manage the lifecycle of cryptographic keys and perform encryption and decryption functions, thus fingerprint authentication falls outside its usual scope of operations.