POST /#X-Amz-Target=TrentService.CreateKey
Creates a unique customer managed KMS key in your Amazon Web Services account and Region. You can use a KMS key in cryptographic operations, such as encryption and signing. Some Amazon Web Services services let you use KMS keys that you create and manage to protect your service resources.
A KMS key is a logical representation of a cryptographic key. In addition to the key material used in cryptographic operations, a KMS key includes metadata, such as the key ID, key policy, creation date, description, and key state. For details, see Managing keys in the Key Management Service Developer Guide
Use the parameters of CreateKey to specify the type of KMS key, the source of its key material, its key policy, description, tags, and other properties.
KMS has replaced the term customer master key (CMK) with KMS key and KMS key. The concept has not changed. To prevent breaking changes, KMS is keeping some variations of this term.
To create different types of KMS keys, use the following guidance:
- Symmetric encryption KMS key
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By default,
CreateKeycreates a symmetric encryption KMS key with key material that KMS generates. This is the basic and most widely used type of KMS key, and provides the best performance.To create a symmetric encryption KMS key, you don't need to specify any parameters. The default value for
KeySpec,SYMMETRIC_DEFAULT, the default value forKeyUsage,ENCRYPT_DECRYPT, and the default value forOrigin,AWS_KMS, create a symmetric encryption KMS key with KMS key material.If you need a key for basic encryption and decryption or you are creating a KMS key to protect your resources in an Amazon Web Services service, create a symmetric encryption KMS key. The key material in a symmetric encryption key never leaves KMS unencrypted. You can use a symmetric encryption KMS key to encrypt and decrypt data up to 4,096 bytes, but they are typically used to generate data keys and data keys pairs. For details, see GenerateDataKey and GenerateDataKeyPair.
- Asymmetric KMS keys
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To create an asymmetric KMS key, use the
KeySpecparameter to specify the type of key material in the KMS key. Then, use theKeyUsageparameter to determine whether the KMS key will be used to encrypt and decrypt or sign and verify. You can't change these properties after the KMS key is created.Asymmetric KMS keys contain an RSA key pair, Elliptic Curve (ECC) key pair, or an SM2 key pair (China Regions only). The private key in an asymmetric KMS key never leaves KMS unencrypted. However, you can use the GetPublicKey operation to download the public key so it can be used outside of KMS. KMS keys with RSA or SM2 key pairs can be used to encrypt or decrypt data or sign and verify messages (but not both). KMS keys with ECC key pairs can be used only to sign and verify messages. For information about asymmetric KMS keys, see Asymmetric KMS keys in the Key Management Service Developer Guide.
- HMAC KMS key
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To create an HMAC KMS key, set the
KeySpecparameter to a key spec value for HMAC KMS keys. Then set theKeyUsageparameter toGENERATE_VERIFY_MAC. You must set the key usage even thoughGENERATE_VERIFY_MACis the only valid key usage value for HMAC KMS keys. You can't change these properties after the KMS key is created.HMAC KMS keys are symmetric keys that never leave KMS unencrypted. You can use HMAC keys to generate (GenerateMac) and verify (VerifyMac) HMAC codes for messages up to 4096 bytes.
HMAC KMS keys are not supported in all Amazon Web Services Regions. If you try to create an HMAC KMS key in an Amazon Web Services Region in which HMAC keys are not supported, the
CreateKeyoperation returns anUnsupportedOperationException. For a list of Regions in which HMAC KMS keys are supported, see HMAC keys in KMS in the Key Management Service Developer Guide. - Multi-Region primary keys
- Imported key material
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To create a multi-Region primary key in the local Amazon Web Services Region, use the
MultiRegionparameter with a value ofTrue. To create a multi-Region replica key, that is, a KMS key with the same key ID and key material as a primary key, but in a different Amazon Web Services Region, use the ReplicateKey operation. To change a replica key to a primary key, and its primary key to a replica key, use the UpdatePrimaryRegion operation.You can create multi-Region KMS keys for all supported KMS key types: symmetric encryption KMS keys, HMAC KMS keys, asymmetric encryption KMS keys, and asymmetric signing KMS keys. You can also create multi-Region keys with imported key material. However, you can't create multi-Region keys in a custom key store.
This operation supports multi-Region keys, an KMS feature that lets you create multiple interoperable KMS keys in different Amazon Web Services Regions. Because these KMS keys have the same key ID, key material, and other metadata, you can use them interchangeably to encrypt data in one Amazon Web Services Region and decrypt it in a different Amazon Web Services Region without re-encrypting the data or making a cross-Region call. For more information about multi-Region keys, see Multi-Region keys in KMS in the Key Management Service Developer Guide.
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To import your own key material into a KMS key, begin by creating a symmetric encryption KMS key with no key material. To do this, use the
Originparameter ofCreateKeywith a value ofEXTERNAL. Next, use GetParametersForImport operation to get a public key and import token, and use the public key to encrypt your key material. Then, use ImportKeyMaterial with your import token to import the key material. For step-by-step instructions, see Importing Key Material in the Key Management Service Developer Guide .This feature supports only symmetric encryption KMS keys, including multi-Region symmetric encryption KMS keys. You cannot import key material into any other type of KMS key.
To create a multi-Region primary key with imported key material, use the
Originparameter ofCreateKeywith a value ofEXTERNALand theMultiRegionparameter with a value ofTrue. To create replicas of the multi-Region primary key, use the ReplicateKey operation. For instructions, see Importing key material into multi-Region keys. For more information about multi-Region keys, see Multi-Region keys in KMS in the Key Management Service Developer Guide. - Custom key store
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A custom key store lets you protect your Amazon Web Services resources using keys in a backing key store that you own and manage. When you request a cryptographic operation with a KMS key in a custom key store, the operation is performed in the backing key store using its cryptographic keys.
KMS supports CloudHSM key stores backed by an CloudHSM cluster and external key stores backed by an external key manager outside of Amazon Web Services. When you create a KMS key in an CloudHSM key store, KMS generates an encryption key in the CloudHSM cluster and associates it with the KMS key. When you create a KMS key in an external key store, you specify an existing encryption key in the external key manager.
Some external key managers provide a simpler method for creating a KMS key in an external key store. For details, see your external key manager documentation.
Before you create a KMS key in a custom key store, the
ConnectionStateof the key store must beCONNECTED. To connect the custom key store, use the ConnectCustomKeyStore operation. To find theConnectionState, use the DescribeCustomKeyStores operation.To create a KMS key in a custom key store, use the
CustomKeyStoreId. Use the defaultKeySpecvalue,SYMMETRIC_DEFAULT, and the defaultKeyUsagevalue,ENCRYPT_DECRYPTto create a symmetric encryption key. No other key type is supported in a custom key store.To create a KMS key in an CloudHSM key store, use the
Originparameter with a value ofAWS_CLOUDHSM. The CloudHSM cluster that is associated with the custom key store must have at least two active HSMs in different Availability Zones in the Amazon Web Services Region.To create a KMS key in an external key store, use the
Originparameter with a value ofEXTERNAL_KEY_STOREand anXksKeyIdparameter that identifies an existing external key.Some external key managers provide a simpler method for creating a KMS key in an external key store. For details, see your external key manager documentation.
Cross-account use: No. You cannot use this operation to create a KMS key in a different Amazon Web Services account.
Required permissions: kms:CreateKey (IAM policy). To use the Tags parameter, kms:TagResource (IAM policy). For examples and information about related permissions, see Allow a user to create KMS keys in the Key Management Service Developer Guide.
Related operations:
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DescribeKey
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ListKeys
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ScheduleKeyDeletion
Servers
- https://kms.{region}.amazonaws.com
- https://kms.{region}.amazonaws.com.cn
Request headers
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
X-Amz-Content-Sha256 |
String | No | |
X-Amz-Credential |
String | No | |
X-Amz-Target |
String | Yes |
Valid values:
|
Content-Type |
String | Yes |
The media type of the request body.
Default value: "application/json" |
X-Amz-Date |
String | No | |
X-Amz-Algorithm |
String | No | |
X-Amz-SignedHeaders |
String | No | |
X-Amz-Security-Token |
String | No | |
X-Amz-Signature |
String | No |
Request body fields
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
KeySpec |
String | No |
Specifies the type of KMS key to create. The default value, The Amazon Web Services services that are integrated with KMS use symmetric encryption KMS keys to protect your data. These services do not support asymmetric KMS keys or HMAC KMS keys. KMS supports the following key specs for KMS keys:
Valid values:
|
CustomKeyStoreId |
String | No |
Creates the KMS key in the specified custom key store. The This parameter is valid only for symmetric encryption KMS keys in a single Region. You cannot create any other type of KMS key in a custom key store. When you create a KMS key in an CloudHSM key store, KMS generates a non-exportable 256-bit symmetric key in its associated CloudHSM cluster and associates it with the KMS key. When you create a KMS key in an external key store, you must use the |
Policy |
String | No |
The key policy to attach to the KMS key. If you provide a key policy, it must meet the following criteria:
If you do not provide a key policy, KMS attaches a default key policy to the KMS key. For more information, see Default key policy in the Key Management Service Developer Guide. The key policy size quota is 32 kilobytes (32768 bytes). For help writing and formatting a JSON policy document, see the IAM JSON Policy Reference in the Identity and Access Management User Guide . |
CustomerMasterKeySpec |
String | No |
Instead, use the The Valid values:
|
BypassPolicyLockoutSafetyCheck |
Boolean | No |
Skips ("bypasses") the key policy lockout safety check. The default value is false. Setting this value to true increases the risk that the KMS key becomes unmanageable. Do not set this value to true indiscriminately. For more information, see Default key policy in the Key Management Service Developer Guide. Use this parameter only when you intend to prevent the principal that is making the request from making a subsequent PutKeyPolicy request on the KMS key. |
Tags[] |
Array | No |
Assigns one or more tags to the KMS key. Use this parameter to tag the KMS key when it is created. To tag an existing KMS key, use the TagResource operation. Tagging or untagging a KMS key can allow or deny permission to the KMS key. For details, see ABAC for KMS in the Key Management Service Developer Guide. To use this parameter, you must have kms:TagResource permission in an IAM policy. Each tag consists of a tag key and a tag value. Both the tag key and the tag value are required, but the tag value can be an empty (null) string. You cannot have more than one tag on a KMS key with the same tag key. If you specify an existing tag key with a different tag value, KMS replaces the current tag value with the specified one. When you add tags to an Amazon Web Services resource, Amazon Web Services generates a cost allocation report with usage and costs aggregated by tags. Tags can also be used to control access to a KMS key. For details, see Tagging Keys. |
KeyUsage |
String | No |
Determines the cryptographic operations for which you can use the KMS key. The default value is Select only one valid value.
Valid values:
|
Origin |
String | No |
The source of the key material for the KMS key. You cannot change the origin after you create the KMS key. The default is To create a KMS key with no key material (for imported key material), set this value to To create a KMS key in an CloudHSM key store and create its key material in the associated CloudHSM cluster, set this value to To create a KMS key in an external key store, set this value to Valid values:
|
Description |
String | No |
A description of the KMS key. Use a description that helps you decide whether the KMS key is appropriate for a task. The default value is an empty string (no description). To set or change the description after the key is created, use UpdateKeyDescription. |
MultiRegion |
Boolean | No |
Creates a multi-Region primary key that you can replicate into other Amazon Web Services Regions. You cannot change this value after you create the KMS key. For a multi-Region key, set this parameter to This operation supports multi-Region keys, an KMS feature that lets you create multiple interoperable KMS keys in different Amazon Web Services Regions. Because these KMS keys have the same key ID, key material, and other metadata, you can use them interchangeably to encrypt data in one Amazon Web Services Region and decrypt it in a different Amazon Web Services Region without re-encrypting the data or making a cross-Region call. For more information about multi-Region keys, see Multi-Region keys in KMS in the Key Management Service Developer Guide. This value creates a primary key, not a replica. To create a replica key, use the ReplicateKey operation. You can create a symmetric or asymmetric multi-Region key, and you can create a multi-Region key with imported key material. However, you cannot create a multi-Region key in a custom key store. |
XksKeyId |
String | No |
Identifies the external key that serves as key material for the KMS key in an external key store. Specify the ID that the external key store proxy uses to refer to the external key. For help, see the documentation for your external key store proxy. This parameter is required for a KMS key with an The external key must be an existing 256-bit AES symmetric encryption key hosted outside of Amazon Web Services in an external key manager associated with the external key store specified by the Each KMS key in an external key store is associated two backing keys. One is key material that KMS generates. The other is the external key specified by this parameter. When you use the KMS key in an external key store to encrypt data, the encryption operation is performed first by KMS using the KMS key material, and then by the external key manager using the specified external key, a process known as double encryption. For details, see Double encryption in the Key Management Service Developer Guide. |
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