SoftHSM is software that emulates a PKCS11 Hardware Security Module for development and testing.
An HSM or Hardware Security Module is a PKCS11 compliant and tamper-proof hardware component for the management and storage of cryptographic assets such as keys and certificates, and for offloading cryptographic operations.
SoftHSM is a software emulation of a PKCS11 compliant HSM for purposes of development, training and testing. This provides a cost-effective alternative to purchasing dedicated hardware components for non-Production use. It is being developed as a part of the OpenDNSSEC project.
