A computer program product, the computer program product including a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer device to cause the computer device to: federate a proxy hardware security module from a physical hardware security module; store the proxy hardware security module; receive a first one of a plurality of periodic identifying communications from the physical hardware security module; and erase the proxy hardware security module as a result of the computer device not receiving a second one of the plurality of periodic identifying communications.