Nitrokey · Hardware security module
Nitrokey HSM 2
Hardware security module for PKI, code signing, CA operations, and SSH host key storage. Open-source firmware, USB-A interface. The affordable HSM for teams that need hardware-bound keys but can't justify an enterprise rack appliance.
$135
EU equivalent: €109 incl. VAT · nitrokey.comShips direct from Nitrokey (Germany) · typically 5–10 business days
Vegas batch closed — buy direct on Nitrokey, or get notified when the next bulk batch opens.
Get the next Nitrokey batch
The Vegas batch has closed. Need it now? Buy direct on Nitrokey. Rather wait for the next bulk run — group pricing, PO/invoicing, and event pickup? Tell us what you’d order and we’ll email you the moment it opens. No commitment; enough interest is what schedules the next batch.
No battery
No battery. Ships by any service with no dangerous-goods restrictions.
What to build with it
ciso.diy build guides name this exact machine in their build sheet. The hardware is the easy half — these are the documents that tell you what to put on it and how to keep it honest.
The Operator Node — DIY Build GuideTurn this machine into the box a security program runs on: the living risk register, the ISMS and the evidence vault, off production, reachable only over a zero-trust mesh, on your own keys. Six build steps with the commands, plus a fillable build-day runbook.SOC in a Box — the Pillar 04 hardware buildThe detection and monitoring stack landed on one machine you hold — the hardware half of the AI-SOC pillar, with the sizing, the layout and the trade-offs written down.The 2026 AI Risk RegisterIts Tier 2 build sheet is an air-gapped Register Node: a completed AI risk register is a manifest of every AI system you run and every credential scope your agents hold, which is a good argument for it living on hardware with no inbound path. The whole program as build guides →Why the Nitrokey HSM 2
What this hardware security module does that alternatives don't.
PKI and CA operations
Generate and store certificate authority signing keys in hardware. Private keys never export. Supports RSA up to 4096 and ECC up to P-521.
Code signing without a rack
Enterprise HSMs cost $15K+. The Nitrokey HSM 2 provides hardware-bound code signing for teams at 1% of the cost — the same underlying technology.
Open-source SmartCard-HSM
Based on the SmartCard-HSM open standard. Works with OpenSC, PKCS#11, and all major PKI toolchains. No vendor lock-in.
Specifications
Full technical details.
Compliance framework mapping
Controls this product satisfies across 12 frameworks.
Multi-factor authentication — hardware-bound
Phishing-resistant MFA using hardware security keys. Software TOTP and SMS are explicitly excluded from "phishing-resistant" in NIST 800-63B and most modern framework guidance.
Cryptographic key management
Hardware-bound key generation and storage. Private keys generated and stored inside a certified secure element (EAL 6+) and are non-exportable by design — for login credentials (Nitrokey) and crypto-asset custody (Ledger) alike.
Data protection at rest
Hardware-encrypted storage and self-hosted file servers replace cloud storage with hardware you control. Encryption keys never leave your environment.
Compared to
Honest comparisons against the most likely alternatives.
vs Nitrokey 3C NFC
The 3C is for user authentication (FIDO2, OpenPGP). The HSM 2 is for PKI and CA operations — certificate signing, code signing, SSH host keys.
vs AWS CloudHSM / Azure Dedicated HSM
Cloud HSMs are $1.5K–$2K/month. The Nitrokey HSM 2 is $135 one-time. Right for teams that need hardware-bound keys but don't have compliance requirements for a FIPS 140-3 Level 3 appliance.
vs YubiHSM 2
Similar category. YubiHSM 2 is $650; Nitrokey HSM 2 is $135. Nitrokey uses the open SmartCard-HSM standard; YubiHSM uses a proprietary connector and SDK.
Shipping & returns
What to expect after you order.
Shipping
Ships from our Tennessee 3PL. 2-day FedEx to most US addresses, expedited options at checkout. Signature required. Business day processing — orders placed before 2pm ET ship same day.
Returns & RMA
30-day return window for unopened units. Defective units handled under Nitrokey's 2-year warranty — we manage the US-side RMA so you don't ship to Berlin.
Purchase orders
Net-30 terms available for approved organizations. W-9 on file. Generate a quote from the stack builder or email sales@securitygadgets.shop with your PO requirements.
Authorized reseller
We are an official Nitrokey authorized reseller. Full manufacturer warranty applies. Identical hardware and firmware to buying direct from nitrokey.com — with US inventory and support.
