For every Open (or New ), there must be exactly one NCryptFreeObject .
When invoking NCryptOpenStorageProvider , developers target different security isolation boundaries depending on the string passed to pszProviderName . Provider Constant System Alias Underlying Storage Architecture "Microsoft Software Key Storage Provider"
: A pointer to an NCRYPT_PROV_HANDLE variable. This is the crucial output. Upon success, this variable receives the handle to the Key Storage Provider. This opaque pointer must be preserved for all subsequent CNG operations. "Securely storing this handle is vital, as it will be used for all subsequent key operations".
return S_OK;
Before we dissect the function, we must understand the ecosystem. (Cryptography API: Next Generation - CNG) is Microsoft's modern cryptographic framework. It replaces the older CryptoAPI (CAPI). Ncrypt allows developers to perform encryption, hashing, and key storage without writing complex cryptographic algorithms from scratch. ncryptopenstorageprovider new
The ncryptopenstorageprovider new command standardizes the creation of secure, encrypted storage volumes across heterogeneous backends. By decoupling the control plane (key management) from the data plane (block storage), it offers a performant, auditable alternative to traditional disk encryption layers. This interface is ready for integration into Kubernetes via a custom CSI driver.
// 5. Cleanup NCryptFreeObject(hKey); NCryptFreeObject(hProvider);
To understand the "New" aspect, let us first look at the standard C++ function signature as defined in ncrypt.h :
: A pointer to a variable that receives the provider handle. This handle must eventually be released using NCryptFreeObject . For every Open (or New ), there must
SECURITY_STATUS NCryptOpenStorageProvider( [out] NCRYPT_PROV_HANDLE *phProvider, [in, optional] LPCWSTR pszProviderName, [in] DWORD dwFlags ); Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Parameters phProvider : A pointer to an NCRYPT_PROV_HANDLE variable. This receives the provider handle. pszProviderName : A pointer to a Unicode string identifying the KSP. , the default provider is loaded. : No flags are currently defined for this function (set to 🏗️ Built-in Microsoft Providers
: KSPs can run in a separate process from the application, protecting private keys even if the application is compromised.
The provider registers a Linux kernel or FUSE filter. This filter intercepts read() and write() syscalls for the specific volume. At this point, the provider is "new" and active but idle.
If you want, I can expand any section into full prose, produce API reference docs, or generate code examples for a specific platform (JS, Swift, Kotlin, or Python). Which would you like next? This is the crucial output
Microsoft Platform Crypto Provider ( MS_PLATFORM_CRYPTO_PROVIDER ) : L"Microsoft Platform Crypto Provider"
: A pointer to an NCRYPT_PROV_HANDLE variable that receives the newly initialized provider handle. This handle must be explicitly managed and eventually freed via NCryptFreeObject to prevent memory leaks.
: A null-terminated Unicode string identifying the targeted Key Storage Provider. If passed as NULL , the subsystem defaults to loading the standard MS_KEY_STORAGE_PROVIDER .