Certificate Manager Version Number Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining a private certificate authority is complex and costly, particularly due to the need for a dedicated Certificate Revocation List (CRL) service that requires continuous updates, which can lead to communication security gaps if a certificate is revoked between updates.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a certificate manager that modifies metadata within certificates with a version number, associating certificates with a reference version number, and using a scheduler to periodically check for expirations and send notifications for renewal or revocation, preventing communication with revoked certificates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a private certificate authority is maintained with a Certificate Revocation List (CRL) service, then certificate validation capability is provided, but system complexity and operational burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the CRL service from the certificate authority system and replaces it with a version number embedded directly in the certificate. This eliminates the need for a separate CRL service while maintaining certificate validation capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the revocation status information into the certificate itself by embedding a version number in the certificate metadata. This combines what were previously separate components (certificate and CRL) into a single integrated structure, reducing system complexity while preserving validation functionality.
2Reliability
If a CRL service is used to revoke certificates, then security control is achieved, but time delays occur between revocation and validation updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the version number in the certificate before issuance, so that when a certificate is revoked, the version number in the revoked certificate already contains the authoritative revocation information. This preliminary embedding eliminates the time delay associated with periodic CRL updates, as validation is immediate based on the embedded version number.
Solution Approach 2:
The version number acts as an intermediary that carries revocation status information directly within the certificate. Instead of relying on external CRL updates, the version number mediates the transmission of revocation status, enabling immediate validation without time delays.
3Reliability
If periodic CRL updates are implemented, then certificate revocation tracking is maintained, but security gaps occur when certificates are revoked between updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous security validation by embedding the version number in each certificate. This creates a continuous validation mechanism where every certificate carries its own validity information, eliminating the discontinuous gaps that occur with periodic CRL updates. The useful action of certificate validation continues without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
Each certificate becomes self-sufficient by containing its own version number that indicates its validity status. The certificate validates itself without requiring external CRL checks, eliminating security gaps that occur when revoked certificates are not yet reflected in the CRL. The self-service approach ensures continuous security tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Metadata included in a certificate received from an application or service is analyzed. The application or service is permitted to communicate with other applications or services associated with a data management as a service infrastructure based on a version number associated with a storage tenant included in the analyzed metadata.