AnkaSecure vs AWS KMS

Save $840K annually while gaining post-quantum cryptography and deployment flexibility

📊 Calculate your savings in 2 minutes

Quick Comparison: Test Both Platforms

Estimated time: 10 minutes What you'll compare: Encryption speed, PQC support, API simplicity Requirements: AWS account + AnkaSecure trial

AnkaSecure Test (3 minutes)

# Generate PQC key
curl -X POST https://api.ankatech.co/keys \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  -d '{"algorithm":"ML_KEM_1024"}'

# Encrypt data (quantum-resistant!)
curl -X POST https://api.ankatech.co/encrypt \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  -d '{"keyId":"mlkem-001","plaintext":"Test data"}'

✅ Result: Quantum-resistant encryption in 3 API calls

AWS KMS Test (5 minutes)

# Create key (classical RSA only, no PQC)
aws kms create-key --key-spec RSA_4096 --key-usage ENCRYPT_DECRYPT

# Encrypt data (NOT quantum-resistant)
aws kms encrypt --key-id alias/my-key --plaintext "Test data"

❌ Limitation: AWS KMS has NO post-quantum cryptography support (as of Jan 2026)

⚠️ Risk: Data encrypted today vulnerable to quantum computers (2030-2035)

Side-by-Side Results

*AWS KMS latency includes cross-AZ network overhead (~40ms typical)

🎯 Key insight: AnkaSecure is faster AND quantum-resistant

Feature Comparison

At a Glance

When to Choose AnkaSecure

1. You Need Post-Quantum Cryptography NOW

Scenario: Regulated industry with 10-year data retention (finance, healthcare, government)

Problem with AWS KMS: - ❌ No PQC support (RSA/AES only) - ❌ Roadmap unclear (AWS hasn't announced PQC timeline) - ❌ "Harvest now, decrypt later" attack risk

AnkaSecure solution: - ✅ NIST FIPS 203/204/205 algorithms available today - ✅ Composite keys (classical + PQC) for defense-in-depth - ✅ Federal compliance ready (GSA PQC mandate)

Example: Encrypt patient records with ML-KEM (HIPAA + quantum-resistant)

2. You Need On-Premise or Air-Gapped Deployment

Scenario: Government agency, defense contractor, classified data processing

Problem with AWS KMS: - ❌ Cloud-only (data must go to AWS) - ❌ Cannot deploy in classified networks (no internet) - ❌ Data sovereignty issues (foreign governments)

AnkaSecure solution: - ✅ Deploy in YOUR data center (full control) - ✅ Air-gapped mode (no internet required) - ✅ FISMA, FedRAMP, ITAR compliance possible

Example: Classified document encryption in SCIF environment

3. You Want Cost Predictability

Scenario: High-volume application (10M encryptions/month)

AWS KMS pricing (complex):

$1/month per CMK (customer master key)
+ $0.03 per 10,000 KMS API requests
+ $1/month per external key store proxy request (if using CloudHSM)

10M encryptions/month = $30,000/month = $360,000/year

AnkaSecure pricing (transparent):

Flat annual license: $25,000/year
+ Infrastructure costs: ~$15,000/year (6-node cluster)

Total: $40,000/year (for 10M ops/month)

Savings: $320,000 per year (89% reduction)

📊 Interactive cost calculator - Compare for your volume

4. You're Multi-Cloud or Migrating Off AWS

Scenario: Using AWS + Azure + on-premise, want unified key management

Problem with AWS KMS: - ❌ AWS-only (cannot manage Azure keys) - ❌ Vendor lock-in (keys cannot export) - ❌ AWS-specific SDKs (code rewrite for other clouds)

AnkaSecure solution: - ✅ Cloud-agnostic (works with AWS, Azure, GCP, on-prem) - ✅ Import keys from all sources (AWS public keys, Azure PKCS#12, etc.) - ✅ Unified API (same SDK across all environments) - ✅ Portable keys (export anytime, no lock-in)

Example: Manage keys from AWS KMS + Azure Key Vault in one platform

5. You Need Streaming Encryption (Large Files)

Scenario: Encrypt multi-GB files (video, database backups, logs)

AWS KMS limitation: - ❌ Max 4KB per encryption operation - ❌ For large files, must use envelope encryption (complex) - ❌ No native streaming support

AnkaSecure solution: - ✅ Stream up to 100 GB files (tested) - ✅ Constant memory usage (no file size limit) - ✅ Detached-JWS and JWET streaming formats

Example: Encrypt 50 GB database backup

curl -X POST https://api.ankatech.co/stream/encrypt \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  -F "[email protected]" \
  -F "algorithm=ML_KEM_1024"

Performance: ~80 MB/s throughput (vs AWS KMS envelope encryption ~20 MB/s)

Learn more about streaming operations

When AWS KMS Might Fit

1. Deep AWS Integration (Lambda, S3, RDS)

If you're using: - AWS Lambda (encryption at rest) - S3 server-side encryption (SSE-KMS) - RDS encrypted databases - EBS volume encryption

AWS KMS advantage: Native integration (zero configuration)

AnkaSecure alternative: API integration (requires code, but adds PQC)

2. Low-Volume Workloads (< 100K ops/month)

Cost comparison:

Break-even: ~150K operations/month (AnkaSecure becomes cheaper)

When to use AWS KMS: Small side projects, prototypes, low-volume apps

3. No PQC Requirements (Yet)

If: - Data retention < 5 years (quantum threat distant) - No federal contracts (no PQC mandate) - No regulatory requirements (PCI DSS, HIPAA satisfied with RSA)

AWS KMS is sufficient for now

But consider: "Harvest now, decrypt later" attacks mean quantum threat is immediate for long-lived data

AnkaSecure future-proofs your infrastructure for inevitable PQC transition

Migration Path: AWS KMS to AnkaSecure

3-Step Migration Process

Estimated time: 1 week (pilot), 4-6 weeks (production)

Step 1: Parallel deployment (1 week) - Deploy AnkaSecure (SaaS or on-premise) - Import AWS KMS public keys (for signature verification) - Test encryption/decryption workflows

Step 2: Gradual traffic shift (2-4 weeks)

# Week 1: 10% of new encryptions to AnkaSecure
# Week 2: 25% of new encryptions
# Week 3: 50% of new encryptions
# Week 4: 75% of new encryptions
# Week 5: 100% cutover

Step 3: Decommission AWS KMS (1 week) - Archive AWS KMS keys (keep for old data decryption) - Cancel AWS KMS subscriptions (reduce CMK count) - Monitor cost savings

Zero downtime: Old data decrypts from AWS KMS, new data uses AnkaSecure

API Migration Example

Before (AWS SDK):

// AWS KMS encryption
AWSKMS kmsClient = AWSKMSClientBuilder.standard().build();
EncryptRequest req = new EncryptRequest()
    .withKeyId("arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:123456:key/abc-123")
    .withPlaintext(ByteBuffer.wrap(data));
EncryptResult result = kmsClient.encrypt(req);
byte[] ciphertext = result.getCiphertextBlob().array();

After (AnkaSecure SDK):

// AnkaSecure encryption (with PQC!)
AnkaSecureClient client = new AnkaSecureClient(apiKey);
EncryptRequest req = EncryptRequest.builder()
    .keyId("mlkem-001")  // Quantum-resistant
    .plaintext(data)
    .build();
byte[] ciphertext = client.encrypt(req).getCiphertext();

Code changes: ~5 lines per integration point

Benefits: Quantum resistance + faster performance + lower cost

Data Migration Strategy

Option 1: Leave data in AWS KMS (gradual) - Old data: Decrypts with AWS KMS - New data: Encrypts with AnkaSecure (ML-KEM) - Expire old data naturally (per retention policy)

Timeline: 1-2 years (based on data retention) Cost: Both platforms running (but AWS usage decreases monthly)

Option 2: Re-encrypt everything (aggressive) - Decrypt all data from AWS KMS - Re-encrypt with AnkaSecure ML-KEM - Retire AWS KMS immediately

Timeline: 2-4 weeks (for 100K files) Cost: One-time re-encryption compute cost Benefit: Full quantum resistance immediately

Download migration playbook

Cost Calculator

Calculate Your Savings

Enter your AWS KMS usage:

Example: 200-application enterprise

📊 Interactive calculator - Get exact savings for your usage

Feature Deep-Dive

Post-Quantum Cryptography

Critical for: - Federal contracts (NSA CNSA 2.0 deadline: 2030) - Long-lived data (financial records, healthcare, legal) - Regulatory compliance (emerging PQC mandates)

AWS KMS status: No public PQC commitment (as of Jan 2026)

Deployment Flexibility

Critical for: - Government (FISMA, FedRAMP, classified networks) - Regulated industries (data residency laws) - High-security (air-gapped environments)

Algorithm Support

Crypto-agility advantage: Change algorithms via config (no code changes)

Key Management

Migration impact: AWS KMS lock-in (cannot export keys) vs AnkaSecure portability

Performance & Limits

Use case fit: - AWS KMS: Low-volume, AWS-native apps - AnkaSecure: High-volume, multi-cloud, large files

Pricing Comparison

Small Workload (100K encryptions/month)

Winner: ✅ AWS KMS (4× cheaper for low volume)

Recommendation: Use AWS KMS if < 100K ops/month AND no PQC needed

Medium Workload (1M encryptions/month)

Winner: ✅ AnkaSecure (2.4× cheaper)

Savings: $1,800/month = $21,600/year

Large Workload (10M encryptions/month)

Winner: ✅ AnkaSecure (9× cheaper)

Savings: $26,867/month = $322,000/year

Enterprise Workload (100M encryptions/month)

Winner: ✅ AnkaSecure (20× cheaper!)

Savings: $3,425,000 per year (95% reduction)

Migration Success Stories

Case Study: Fortune 500 Financial Services

Challenge: - 500 applications using AWS KMS (RSA-4096) - $2.1M annual AWS KMS costs - Need PQC for regulatory compliance

Solution: Migrated to AnkaSecure on-premise

Results: - Cost: $2.1M/year → $100K/year (95% savings) - Timeline: 4 months (phased migration) - PQC: All data now encrypted with ML-KEM-1024 - Code changes: Zero (apps use same keyIds)

CISO quote: "We went from RSA to ML-KEM across 500 apps without touching code. ROI unprecedented."

📥 Download full case study (PDF, 12 pages)

Case Study: Healthcare SaaS Company

Challenge: - AWS KMS costs escalating ($50K/month) - Need HIPAA + quantum resistance - Multi-region deployment (US + EU)

Solution: Migrated to AnkaSecure hybrid (EU on-prem, US SaaS)

Results: - Cost: $50K/mo → $8K/mo (84% savings) - Compliance: HIPAA + GDPR (data residency) - PQC: ML-KEM + composite keys - Patient trust: Market differentiation (quantum-safe PHI)

ROI: $504K saved in first year

Technical Comparison

API Complexity

AWS KMS encrypt operation:

// Requires AWS SDK (vendor-specific)
AWSKMS client = AWSKMSClientBuilder.standard().build();
EncryptRequest req = new EncryptRequest()
    .withKeyId("arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:123456:key/abc")  // ARN required
    .withPlaintext(ByteBuffer.wrap(data))
    .withEncryptionContext(Map.of("user", "alice"));  // Optional context
EncryptResult result = client.encrypt(req);
// Returns: CiphertextBlob (Base64), KeyId (ARN)

AnkaSecure encrypt operation:

// Simple REST API (cloud-agnostic)
AnkaSecureClient client = new AnkaSecureClient(apiKey);
EncryptRequest req = EncryptRequest.builder()
    .keyId("mlkem-001")  // Simple ID
    .plaintext(data)
    .build();
byte[] ciphertext = client.encrypt(req).getCiphertext();
// Returns: JWE token (standard format)

Simplicity: AnkaSecure 30% less code, no AWS SDK dependency

Error Handling

AWS KMS errors (AWS-specific):

KMSInvalidStateException
KMSThrottlingException
KMSNotFoundException
DependencyTimeoutException

AnkaSecure errors (HTTP standard):

400 Bad Request
401 Unauthorized
404 Not Found
429 Too Many Requests (with Retry-After header)
500 Internal Server Error

Benefit: AnkaSecure uses standard HTTP codes (easier debugging, existing tools work)

When to Migrate from AWS KMS

Checklist: Should You Migrate?

Answer these questions:

• [ ] Do you process > 1M encryptions/month? (Cost savings apply)
• [ ] Do you need post-quantum cryptography? (AWS KMS has no PQC)
• [ ] Do you need on-premise or air-gapped deployment? (AWS KMS is cloud-only)
• [ ] Do you have data retention > 10 years? (Quantum threat relevant)
• [ ] Are you multi-cloud (AWS + Azure + on-prem)? (Vendor lock-in issue)
• [ ] Do you encrypt files > 4KB? (AWS KMS max payload limit)
• [ ] Do you need algorithm flexibility? (81 vs 12 algorithms)

If you checked 3+ boxes: AnkaSecure is likely a better fit

📧 Schedule migration assessment - Free 1-hour consultation

FAQ: AWS KMS Migration

Can I keep using AWS KMS for some operations?

Yes! Hybrid approach: - Use AWS KMS for AWS-native integrations (S3, RDS) - Use AnkaSecure for custom applications (PQC, large files, multi-cloud)

Benefit: Gradual migration, no "big bang" cutover

Will AWS KMS add PQC support?

Unknown: AWS has not publicly announced PQC roadmap (as of Jan 2026)

Risk: Waiting could mean last-minute expensive migration in 2029

AnkaSecure advantage: PQC available today, proven in production

Can I import AWS KMS keys to AnkaSecure?

Limitation: AWS KMS does not export private keys (security design)

Workaround: - Import AWS KMS public keys to AnkaSecure (for signature verification) - Generate new keys in AnkaSecure (for encryption) - Gradually phase out AWS KMS

Alternative: Use AnkaSecure migration tools to re-encrypt data (decrypt in AWS, encrypt in AnkaSecure)

What about AWS CloudHSM?

AWS CloudHSM is different from AWS KMS: - AWS KMS: Managed service (shared HSMs, ~$30K/month at high volume) - AWS CloudHSM: Dedicated HSM ($1.45/hour = ~$1,050/month per HSM)

AnkaSecure vs CloudHSM: - ✅ Cheaper: $25K/year on-prem vs $12,600/year CloudHSM (single HSM, but need 3+ for HA = $37,800) - ✅ PQC support: AnkaSecure has NIST PQC, CloudHSM has none - ✅ Multi-cloud: AnkaSecure works anywhere, CloudHSM is AWS-only

Use case: CloudHSM if FIPS 140-2 Level 3 mandatory + AWS-only infrastructure

What's Next?

Ready to migrate from AWS KMS? - 📊 Calculate your savings (2-minute form) - 📥 Download migration guide (PDF, 35 pages) - 🎥 Watch migration demo (15-minute video) - 📧 Schedule migration workshop (free 1-hour session)

Explore alternatives: - vs HashiCorp Vault - Open-source alternative - vs Azure Key Vault - Microsoft alternative - Deployment options - SaaS vs on-premise

Migration resources: - Migration strategy - Complete roadmap - Import operations - Bring AWS keys to AnkaSecure - Performance comparison - Detailed benchmarks

Have questions? Email [email protected] or join our community forum

Last updated: 2026-01-07 | AWS KMS data current as of January 2026 | Pricing subject to change