Bootstrap Server Credential Provisioning for IoT Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bootstrapping processes for IoT devices are burdensome for administrators, requiring unique credential data to be generated and provisioned on each device, which increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A secure bootstrap mechanism that uses common credential data, including a trust indicator, shared among a group of devices, allowing devices to authenticate with a bootstrap server and obtain resource credential data for secure communication with resource servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unique credential data is generated and provisioned on each device, then device authentication security is improved, but administrative complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by introducing a bootstrap server that serves multiple devices simultaneously, allowing a single credential provisioning mechanism to handle authentication for many devices. The bootstrap server acts as a universal authority that issues credentials on-demand, eliminating the need for administrators to manually provision each device individually while maintaining secure authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling devices to automatically obtain their own credential data through the bootstrap server without requiring manual administrator intervention. Devices can autonomously authenticate with the bootstrap server and receive appropriate credentials, significantly reducing administrative burden while maintaining security through automated credential management.
2Reliability
If unique credential data is generated and provisioned on each device, then device authentication security is improved, but provisioning time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having devices pre-establish trust with the bootstrap server through trusted communication channels before credential provisioning. The bootstrap server is pre-configured with authority to issue credentials, and devices are pre-programmed with bootstrap server identifiers, enabling rapid credential issuance without time-consuming manual administrator intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices automatically obtain credentials through self-service interaction with the bootstrap server, eliminating the time required for manual administrator provisioning. The automated process allows devices to quickly authenticate and receive credentials on-demand, significantly reducing provisioning time while maintaining security through automated credential management.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present techniques there is provided a computer implemented method of bootstrapping a device by a bootstrap server, the method comprising: receiving, at the bootstrap server from the device as part of a bootstrap process, common credential data including a trust indicator to indicate that the common credential data is common for a group of devices; obtaining, at the bootstrap server, resource credential data based on or in response to the common credential data, the resource credential data to enable the device to authenticate with a resource; transmitting, from the bootstrap server to the device, the resource credential data.