Attestation Service for Computing Resources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional techniques for attesting to properties of computing resources, such as licensing and configuration, are cumbersome and inconvenient, especially in complex environments like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), where managing multiple devices and virtual resources is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A system generates and cryptographically signs documents that encode properties of computing resources, making them human-readable and machine-readable, allowing for secure attestation and verification of these properties across the network, enabling actions like updates and access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional manual registration techniques are used for attesting to computing resource properties, then the attestation process can be performed, but the process becomes cumbersome and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating and storing attestation documents for computing resources before they are needed. The attestation service proactively creates these documents and makes them available in advance, so when verification is needed, the process is immediate rather than requiring manual registration at the moment of need.
Solution Approach 2:
The attestation service enables self-service by automatically generating, storing, and managing attestation documents without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously creating the necessary verification documents and making them accessible to authorized entities, eliminating the need for manual registration and documentation processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional manual registration techniques are used for attesting to computing resource properties, then the attestation can be completed, but the process is cumbersome especially in multi-device environments
Solution Approach 1:
The attestation service provides a universal solution that works across all computing resources in the environment, whether physical or virtual devices. A single service instance can manage attestation for multiple diverse devices through a common interface and document format, making the system adaptable to multi-device environments without increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The attestation service acts as an intermediary between computing resources and entities that need to verify their properties. This mediator automatically handles the complex tasks of document generation, storage, and retrieval, shielding users from the complexity of managing multiple devices while providing versatile attestation capabilities across the entire environment.
3Reliability
If automated document generation and cryptographic signing is implemented, then secure and efficient attestation is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attestation service serves as a specialized intermediary that handles the complex cryptographic operations and document management tasks. By concentrating these security-critical functions in a dedicated service, the system achieves high reliability through automated cryptographic signing and verification, while the complexity is contained within the service rather than distributed across all devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cryptographic copying by generating digital signatures that are copies of the attested information in verified form. The attestation document contains a cryptographic copy of the computing resource properties that can be verified without exposing the original sensitive data, maintaining security while enabling efficient verification across the system.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for attesting to information about a computing resource involve electronically signed documents. For a computing resource, a document containing information about the resource is generated and electronically signed. The document may be provided to one or more entities as an attestation to at least some of the information contained in the document. Attestation to information in the document may be a prerequisite for performance of one or more actions that may be taken in connection with the computing resource.