System and method for distributed security

A method of establishing an authenticated connection between a client and a key server through a handshake process, the method comprising:

• generating a client random number;
• saving a copy of the client random number in a security module of the client;
• sending the client random number to the key server;
• receiving a server random number, a signed session key, and a certificate from the key server;
• sending the signed session key to the security module;
• verifying the signed session key by determining whether the signed session key has been signed with a verified public key;
• and
• verifying the handshake process by comparing a hash of a first public key corresponding to the key server with information stored in the security module, wherein the first public key is configured to expire after a predetermined period of time.

A client device in communication with a plurality of key servers, the client device comprising:

• a local host configured to:
• send a first public key, wherein the first public key corresponds to a first key server in the plurality of key servers, and wherein the first public key is configured to expire after a predetermined period of time, and
• send a secure configuration message;
• and
• a security module programmed with secure server authorization data corresponding to the key server, wherein the secure server authorization data comprises a hash value of the first public key, wherein the security module is configured to:
• determine that the first key server is authorized by comparing information stored in the security module with the hash value of the first public key,
• determine, based on accessing information in the security module, whether the first key server is permitted to authorize additional key servers,
• in response to determining that the first key server is permitted to authorize additional key servers, sign a second public key of a second key server with the first public key to authorize the second key server, wherein either the first public key or the second public key can be used to authorize an additional key server,
• determine whether the secure configuration message is accompanied by an authorized signature of an authenticated public key, and
• in response to determining that the secure configuration message is accompanied by the authorized signature, reconfigure the security module based on the secure configuration message.