Cellular Network Whitelisting for Management Controller Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data processing systems are vulnerable to attacks by malicious entities, which can compromise communications and impact the performance of computer-implemented services.
Innovation Solution
A management system cooperatively enforces a whitelist with a radio access network to authorize communications between data processing system components and other entities, using a network module to facilitate separate communication channels for hardware resources and a management controller, and a radio access network to screen unauthorized communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a whitelist is cooperatively enforced between a management system and a radio access network, then security against malicious attacks is improved, but device complexity and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments communication management by separating the management controller (handling out-of-band communications) from hardware resources (handling in-band communications). Each component has its own whitelist entries, dividing the security enforcement task into manageable parts that can be independently controlled and monitored.
Solution Approach 2:
The radio access network acts as an intermediary that screens communications between data processing system components and external entities. It enforces whitelist rules by inspecting communication requests and blocking unauthorized connections, providing a layered security approach without requiring complex changes to the core data processing system.
2Reliability
If separate communication channels are established for hardware resources and management controller, then communication security is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network architecture is segmented into distinct communication channels: in-band communications for hardware resources and out-of-band communications for the management controller. This segmentation isolates management traffic from data plane traffic, preventing attacks on one channel from compromising the other while maintaining clear security boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a dimensional separation by implementing out-of-band communications as a distinct channel alongside the traditional in-band communications. This creates an additional layer of network space dedicated to management functions, allowing independent security policies and whitelist enforcement without interfering with primary data communications.
3Reliability
If a whitelist is obtained and enforced on data processing system components, then unauthorized communications are reduced, but loss of time for communication setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The whitelist is obtained and configured in advance before communications are needed. The management system retrieves authorized communication partners and stores them in the whitelist, so that when communications occur, the radio access network can quickly match requests against pre-established rules without performing complex authorization checks in real-time.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for managing operation of data processing systems are disclosed. To manage a data processing system of the data processing systems, a management system may obtain a whitelist that may define other entities with which portions of the data processing system (e.g., hardware resources, a management controller, etc.) may be authorized to communicate. The whitelist may be enforced, cooperatively between the management system and a radio access network, to screen communications by the portions of the data processing system.