Sensitive data is stored in a secure buffer, and never in an unencrypted, accessible location at any time. The data is accessed only by low-level processor instructions that load only a portion of the data into processor registers. The portion of data can then be used before the next portion of data is transferred from the secure buffer into the processor registers. In some embodiments, only one portion is available at any time. In other embodiments, a number of portions may be available at one time. However, the entirety of the sensitive data is never present in the clear. Thus, the entirety of the sensitive data will never be available if an adversary gains access to the contents of memory.