Data Center Asset Authentication via Signed Certificate Onboarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data center monitoring and management systems lack a secure and automated solution for zero-touch onboarding of software stacks and cloud services, failing to track software licenses and cloud service entitlements effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for securely embedding a unique identifier with a signed certificate within data center assets, establishing a secure communication channel, and using a data center asset ownership voucher to associate the asset with the customer, enabling secure and automated onboarding of software stacks and cloud services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual onboarding processes are used for data center assets, then security can be maintained through human verification, but the process is time-consuming and lacks automation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by embedding unique identifiers and signed certificates within data center assets before they reach customers. Ownership vouchers are prepared in advance with cryptographic signatures, enabling automated verification and onboarding without manual intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between automation and time consumption.
2Reliability
If traditional asset tracking methods are used, then implementation is simple, but security and reliability of ownership tracking are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces cryptographic intermediaries (signed certificates and ownership vouchers) as mediators between assets and customers. These intermediaries provide verifiable proof of ownership and enable secure tracking without requiring complex centralized databases or continuous monitoring infrastructure, thus achieving high reliability with manageable complexity.
3Reliability
If secure communication channels are established for each asset, then security is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple secure channels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ownership voucher serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a secure communication credential, an ownership proof, and an authentication token. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate secure channels for different purposes, reducing management complexity while maintaining security through the cryptographic properties of the voucher.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for performing a data center monitoring and management operation. The data center monitoring and management operation includes: embedding a unique identifier within a data center asset, the unique identifier including a signed certificate; providing the data center asset to a customer; establishing a secure communication channel between an onboarding system and the data center asset, the secure communication channel using the signed certificate; exchanging information between the onboarding system and the data center asset via the secure communication channel, the information including a data center asset ownership voucher; and, using the data center asset ownership voucher to associate the data center asset to the customer.