Certificate Bundle Rollout Using Sandbox Validation and CA Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network entities in a computing network, such as a virtual cloud network, face challenges in authenticating new digital certificates when the existing certificate bundle does not include a new CA certificate, leading to validation issues.

Innovation Solution

A system performs incremental exposure to an execution environment by using a sandbox sub-environment, a testing service, and a production service to test a new certificate bundle before full activation, ensuring successful authentication of new CA and entity certificates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a new CA certificate is issued to supersede a previous CA certificate, then network security is improved through updated authentication, but network entities with existing certificate bundles cannot validate new digital certificates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecertificate validation reliabilityVSAvoidcertificate bundle compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary testing of the new certificate bundle in a sandbox sub-environment before full deployment. This includes generating test entity certificates using the new CA certificate, validating them against the new bundle, and verifying authentication functionality. Only after successful testing is the new certificate bundle distributed to production network entities, ensuring compatibility and validation reliability simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A certificate distribution service acts as an intermediary between the CA and network entities. This service manages the certificate bundle updates, coordinates testing in sandbox environments, and orchestrates the incremental rollout to production. The intermediary ensures that new certificates are properly validated and distributed while maintaining system compatibility throughout the transition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If digital certificates are periodically updated in the computing network, then security protocols remain current and secure, but network entities experience validation issues when existing certificate bundles do not include new CA certificates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity protocol effectivenessVSAvoidcertificate validation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Testing operations are performed in advance in sandbox sub-environments to validate new certificate bundles before production deployment. This preliminary validation prevents validation failures in production and reduces the time network entities would otherwise spend attempting to validate incompatible certificates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where testing results from sandbox environments inform the certificate distribution process. Validation metrics, authentication success rates, and compatibility assessments from testing phases provide feedback that guides the incremental rollout strategy, allowing rapid identification and resolution of validation issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If a new certificate bundle is distributed to network entities, then authentication of new digital certificates is enabled, but disruptions may occur during the transition from old to new certificates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecertificate bundle update capabilityVSAvoidnetwork authentication stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The certificate bundle update process is segmented into distinct phases: sandbox testing with test entity certificates, incremental production deployment, and full rollout. Network entities receive updates in stages rather than all at once, allowing systematic validation at each phase and isolating potential disruptions to limited subsets of the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements cushioning measures by maintaining both old and new certificate bundles during the transition period. Network entities can fall back to the previous certificate bundle if validation fails with the new one. This backup mechanism cushions against authentication disruptions and ensures network stability throughout the transition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS12495032B2Orchestrating distribution of digital certificates to an execution environment of a computing network

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

A system executes a first testing process utilizing a sandbox sub-environment executing in an execution environment of a computing network to perform a first set of testing operations associated with a new certificate bundle that includes a new CA certificate. Responsive to successful testing via the sandbox sub-environment, the new certificate bundle is installed on a host executing in the execution environment. The system utilizes a testing service executing on the host to perform a second set of testing operations associated with the new certificate bundle. Responsive to successful testing via the testing service executing on the host, the new CA certificate is activated in the execution environment by issuing entity certificates to a set of nodes associated with the host for execution against the new CA certificate.