Digital Certificate Usage Restrictions via Dynamic Policy Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital certificates lack sufficient protection against insider threats, as they can be misused to gain unauthorized access to systems, with current security measures limited to expiration dates, failing to prevent misuse during their validity period.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a usage restriction mechanism within digital certificates that applies specific usage restrictions based on user policies, including time, days, and entities, using a machine learning model to assess risk and update policies dynamically to prevent misuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If digital certificates are issued with extended validity periods, then certificate management efficiency is improved, but the risk of misuse and insider threats increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the certificate validity period into multiple time intervals, each with its own usage restrictions. Instead of a single long-term certificate, the system creates a series of time-bound certificate instances that automatically expire and require reissuance, thereby reducing the window of opportunity for misuse while maintaining management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic usage restrictions that can change over time within the certificate validity period. Usage policies are not static but can be adjusted based on risk assessments, user behavior patterns, and security requirements, allowing the certificate to adapt its permissions dynamically rather than maintaining fixed long-term access.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If usage restrictions are added to digital certificates, then security against misuse is improved, but certificate complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal usage restriction framework that can be applied to multiple certificates and users through a common policy management system. The restriction mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: access control, audit logging, risk assessment, and automatic policy enforcement, thereby reducing the need for separate complex mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary policy management layer that mediates between the certificate holder and the resource access system. This intermediary handles the complexity of usage restrictions, policy interpretation, and enforcement logic, keeping the certificate structure itself relatively simple while providing sophisticated control through the intermediary layer.
3Measurement precision
If machine learning models are used for risk assessment, then detection precision of misuse patterns is improved, but computational resources and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies machine learning models selectively rather than continuously - only when risk indicators are detected or at scheduled intervals rather than on every certificate operation. This partial application of ML analysis achieves sufficient detection precision for identifying misuse patterns while avoiding the excessive computational overhead of continuous model inference on all certificate activities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, a computer program product, and a system for usage restrictions on digital certificates. The method includes selecting a digital certificate relating to a user and determining a usage restriction policy for the digital certificate based on the user. The method also includes populating an extension field of the digital certificate with the usage restriction policy. The method further includes providing the digital certificate including the usage restriction policy to the user. The method also includes gathering parameters relating to the digital certificate, determining usage patterns based on the parameters, inputting the usage patterns into a machine learning model, outputting a risk assessment, and updating the usage restriction policy based on the risk assessment.