BV vs Azure Key Vault

This document compares BV with Azure Key Vault.

Similarities

Both systems are managed services that facilitate the secure storage and retrieval of secrets and credentials at runtime:

• managed services
• store encrypted secrets
• provide HTTPS APIs
• integrate with automated deployments

Key differences

BV

• cloud-provider independent
• explicit hierarchical key structure
• dedicated key service separate from secret storage
• operator-supplied root key
• cryptographic isolation per customer

Azure Key Vault

• tightly integrated with Azure ecosystem
• keys backed by Azure-managed HSM/KMS
• access controlled via Azure AD and RBAC
• dependent on Azure infrastructure

Trust model

BV

• trust limited to BV services and operator-controlled root key

Azure

• trust includes Microsoft control plane and managed HSMs

When BV may be preferred

• multi-cloud or hybrid environments
• avoid provider lock-in
• explicit separation of keys and encrypted data
• stronger customer-level isolation

When Azure may be preferred

• fully standardized on Azure
• want seamless Azure AD integration