API-Based Encryption Platform for Software Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data security methods for software applications are challenging to implement and manage effectively, often resulting in security risks due to incompatibilities between solutions and the lack of expertise among software developers, leading to less secure infrastructure-based encryption solutions.
Innovation Solution
A SAAS-based API platform provides a user interface for creating and managing data encryption and key management within software applications through an API, allowing developers to generate encryption keys, implement encryption with two API calls, and manage encryption keys, profiles, and security parameters, while supporting format-preserving encryption (FPE) and embedded FPE (eFPE).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If infrastructure-based encryption solutions (disk and volume-based encryption) are used, then data security is provided at the storage layer, but the security is much less secure and developers lack expertise to implement effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an API-based encryption service as an intermediary layer between the application and the infrastructure encryption solutions. This service provides simplified APIs that handle the complex encryption operations, allowing developers to implement encryption without needing expertise in cryptography or infrastructure-based encryption mechanisms. The API service acts as a mediator that translates simple API calls into complex encryption operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The encryption service enables applications to perform self-service encryption by providing automated key management and encryption operations through the API. The system automatically handles key generation, distribution, and rotation without requiring developer intervention or expertise in these complex security operations.
2Reliability
If multiple security solutions are combined, then data security is increased, but incompatibilities between different solutions may give rise to additional security risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple security functions (encryption, key management, key rotation, access control) into a single unified API-based service. This consolidation eliminates the incompatibilities that arise from combining multiple separate security solutions while maintaining comprehensive security coverage. The unified service provides a consistent interface and centralized management for all encryption-related operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The API-based encryption service provides universal support for multiple encryption schemes (symmetric, asymmetric, format-preserving encryption) and multiple functions (encryption, decryption, key generation, key rotation, access control) through a single unified interface. This multi-functionality allows the system to replace multiple specialized security tools with one versatile service.
3Ease of operation
If developers implement encryption without security expertise, then application development is simplified, but ineffective infrastructure-based encryption solutions result and customer trust is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The API service acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between developers without security expertise and effective encryption implementation. The service handles all complex cryptographic operations, key management, and security best practices internally, allowing developers to implement encryption effectively without needing security expertise. The API translates simple developer requests into secure, expert-level encryption operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables developers to implement effective encryption through self-service APIs that automatically handle key management, encryption scheme selection, and security parameter configuration. The service autonomously performs these complex tasks based on simple API calls, ensuring effective encryption without requiring developer expertise in these areas.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for creating, managing and implementing data encryption and key management in a software application through an application programming interface (API) via a SAAS-based API-based platform. A developer can quickly and easily build encryption into any application with an API accessed through an API-based platform that allows the developer to enter basic information about an application, generate encryption keys, download a client library and implement the encryption into the application based on the application information and encryption keys with only two calls to the API. The encryption is built into the software layer and the keys are managed remotely, providing security and simplicity for implementing and executing encryption. The SAAS-based API-based platform allows a developer to create and manage application profiles, encryption keys and other security parameters, application access and permissions, and incorporate Format-preserving encryption (FPE) or embedded format preserving encryption (eFPE).