Automated Credential Management in Distributed Clusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
The credentialing process in distributed computing environments is time-consuming, high-latency, and largely manual, failing to keep pace with the demands of modern computing models, particularly in multi-node clusters where manual intervention is required for each user and application, leading to a high demand for credential creation.
Innovation Solution
A method where a single super-user credential is manually created and propagated to all nodes in a multi-node cluster, with a credential management process that automatically creates and manages credentials as needed, using a secure channel for authentication and credential exchange between clusters, reducing administrative workload and eliminating manual steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual credential creation is used for each user and application in distributed computing environments, then security and authorization control are maintained, but the credentialing process becomes time-consuming and high-latency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring credential templates and authorization policies before users and applications are created. When a new user or application is provisioned, the system automatically instantiates credentials based on these pre-defined templates, eliminating the need for manual credential creation for each entity while maintaining security controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The credentialing system implements self-service capabilities where users and applications can automatically obtain their own credentials through self-provisioning processes. The system autonomously manages credential lifecycle operations including creation, distribution, rotation, and revocation without requiring manual administrative intervention, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining security through automated policy enforcement.
2Reliability
If manual credential management is implemented for each node in a multi-node cluster, then security is maintained, but administrative workload increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal credential management system that functions across multiple nodes, applications, and user types through a single centralized platform. This multi-functional system handles diverse credentialing scenarios (user credentials, service account credentials, application credentials) using unified policies and procedures, eliminating the need for separate manual management processes for each node while maintaining consistent security standards across the entire distributed environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary credential management service that acts as a mediator between security requirements and automated credential provisioning. This intermediary component translates security policies into automated credential creation and distribution actions, reducing administrative complexity by centralizing management functions while maintaining security through policy-based control and automated enforcement mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If more credentials are created to support trending computing models and granularity of authorizations, then authorization precision is improved, but the credentialing process becomes more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments authorization credentials into fine-grained, role-based permission units that can be independently assigned and managed. Instead of creating monolithic credentials with broad permissions, the system divides authorization into discrete, manageable segments (roles, permissions, policies) that can be automatically composed and assigned based on user needs, achieving high authorization granularity while keeping the credentialing process simple through automated role-based assignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic parameter changes in credential attributes based on user roles, applications, and security policies. The system automatically adjusts credential parameters (permissions, expiration, scope) according to predefined policies and contextual requirements, enabling precise authorization control without manual intervention. This automated parameter adjustment achieves high granularity of authorization while reducing process complexity through policy-driven automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-node cluster is configured for credential management. A method commences by retrieving a super-user credential from a credential record stored in a location accessible to the cluster, then propagating the super-user credential to a set of nodes in the multi-node cluster. A credential creating processes is invoked on at least some of the set of nodes. Application-level credential access can be implemented in a multi-cluster environment by carrying-out an exchange that passes credentials between a first cluster and a second cluster over a secure channel. A protocol is observed whereby one or more applications running on the first cluster receive new credentials for accessing the second cluster from the credential serving process after the credential creating process creates the new credential.