Code Signing Key Management Server (CSKMS) vs Notation
Code Signing Key Management Server (CSKMS)
certicom.comNotation
notaryproject.devSide by side
| Figure | Code Signing Key Management Server (CSKMS) | Notation |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Code Signing Software | 7.4 (#19) | 7.8 (#11) |
| Integrations | It provides a RESTful API for code-signing clients and offers custom integration services. | The project README links to signing workflows using Azure Key Vault and AWS Signer. |
| Intended users | Certicom describes the server as a solution for manufacturers protecting device software and firmware, including critical-infrastructure, industrial-control, aerospace, military, telecommunications, transportation, and connected-car applications. | The README describes Notation as usable by developers and CI/CD pipelines to produce portable signatures and store them with signed artifacts in OCI-compliant registries. |
| Purpose | CSKMS manages access to code-signing and encryption keys, signs software images, and can optionally encrypt them for target projects. | Notation is a command-line tool for signing and verifying artifacts in OCI registries. |
| Support | Certicom lists Standard and Premium support options; Premium support includes 7×24 hours and a stated response time of one business hour to one business day on its support-offerings page. | The README directs users to the Notation supported releases information for support details. |
Plans
Code Signing Key Management Server (CSKMS)
No plans published.
In their own words
Code Signing Key Management Server (CSKMS)
Code Signing Key Management Server (CSKMS) has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Notation
Notation is a command-line tool for signing and verifying container images and other artifacts in OCI registries, including software bills of materials. It implements the Notary Project specifications, which are intended to help secure software supply chains. Its signatures can move between OCI registries and be validated in connected, intermittently connected, or disconnected environments without additional server infrastructure. The specifications define signature envelopes using COSE or JWS. Notation can integrate with existing key management systems through a plugin model, with instructions for Azure Key Vault and AWS Signer. Developers and CI/CD pipelines can create signatures and store them alongside signed artifacts. The project provides a quick start for signing and validating a container image. Notation runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and is free under the Apache 2.0 license. Cloud signing, trusted timestamping, and CI/CD signing are listed capabilities; a certificate is not provided. The specifications repository lists a 2023 security audit, and the project overview describes continuous fuzz testing across three repositories.