Which key management strategy would be most effective for maintaining the security of cryptographic keys during an increase in cyber attacks?

Choosing to set an expiration date for all current keys is a highly effective key management strategy during times of increased cyber attacks. By implementing expiration dates, organizations can regularly rotate their keys, which minimizes the risk associated with compromised keys. If a key is suspected to have been exposed or misused, allowing it to expire prevents any long-term vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.

This approach ensures that even if a key is lost or stolen, the attacker’s ability to use that key is limited to a predefined timeframe. Once the key expires, it becomes invalid, necessitating the use of a new key for future operations. This practice not only reduces the window of opportunity for attackers but also aligns with best practices in cryptographic key management, enhancing overall security posture.

In contrast, revoking all current keys and generating new ones can lead to operational disruptions and complexities in key distribution. Centralizing key generation and storage might be beneficial but also poses a significant risk if that central repository is compromised. Generating new keys for each transaction increases complexity and can significantly slow down the system’s performance, possibly leading to inefficiencies in operation.