Enterprise Code Signing
Overview
Keyfactor Enterprise Code Signing provides on-premises code signing capabilities for firmware, software, containers, and other artefacts, using HSMs to generate and store signing keys with strong access control. It addresses organisations that need governed code signing operations within their own infrastructure, with policy enforcement, workflow approvals, and comprehensive audit trails for compliance.
Unsung implements Enterprise Code Signing for UK customers in government, defence, and regulated industries that require on-premises signing operations with HSM-backed key protection and structured governance for signing authorisation.
The Challenge
Software supply chain security has become a critical concern for organisations producing or distributing software, firmware, and configuration artefacts. Code signing provides integrity assurance — verifying that software has not been tampered with since it was signed — but only if the signing process itself is properly governed. Signing keys must be protected in HSMs, signing operations must be authorised through defined workflows, and every signing event must be recorded for audit.
Organisations in government and defence environments face additional requirements: signing operations must often occur within classified or air-gapped networks, signing keys must never leave the organisation’s controlled infrastructure, and signing workflows must comply with specific security policies that mandate approval processes and separation of duties.
What It Does
Enterprise Code Signing provides the on-premises infrastructure for governed signing operations. Signing keys are generated and protected within HSMs, ensuring they cannot be extracted or used outside the controlled signing environment. Workflow capabilities enable organisations to define approval processes for signing operations, implementing separation of duties between those who submit code for signing and those who authorise the signing operation.
The platform supports a range of signing formats for different artefact types including Windows executables, Java archives, container images, and firmware binaries. Access controls define which users and service accounts can initiate signing requests, and comprehensive audit logs record every signing operation. When deployed alongside EJBCA and Keyfactor Command, the platform provides an integrated PKI and signing environment with centralised management and visibility.
How Unsung Helps
Unsung helps clients design and implement governed code signing environments, including HSM integration, workflow configuration, and integration with development and release pipelines. Our PKI Design & Build service covers the full architecture, whilst our PKI Consultancy service provides guidance on signing policy design and software supply chain security strategy.
Related Unsung Services
PKI Design & Build — Design and implementation of code signing environments and CI/CD integration.
PKI Consultancy — Advisory on code signing governance and software supply chain security.
Hardware Security Modules — HSM deployment for signing key generation and protection.
