Client Device Policy Binding via Digital Signatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pushing enterprise policy settings to client computing devices is not secure, as users can copy and distribute these settings across multiple devices, violating the intended single-device restriction.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving policy data signed with a public key from a server, authenticating it, and storing the policy settings in a secured module on the client device, using both the server's public key and the device's signature to prevent unauthorized copying or movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If enterprise policy settings are pushed to client computing devices, then policy configuration is automated and efficient, but security is compromised because users can copy and distribute settings across multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The policy settings are segmented into authenticated components that are bound to specific devices through digital signatures. Each device receives a unique authenticated policy package that cannot be validly transferred to other devices, thus enabling automated distribution while preventing unauthorized copying.
Solution Approach 2:
A digital signature mechanism acts as an intermediary between the policy settings and the client devices. The server signs the policy data with its private key, and clients verify authenticity using the server's public key. This intermediary layer ensures that only authenticated devices can install policies and prevents unauthorized distribution.
2Ease of operation
If policy settings are made available on multiple devices, then user accessibility is improved, but policy integrity is violated since enterprise intends single-device restriction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication and binding of policy settings to specific devices before distribution. By signing policies with device-specific credentials and verifying them against the server's public key, the system ensures that policies are legitimately installed only on authorized devices, maintaining integrity while enabling broad accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The policy data structure includes authentication parameters such as digital signatures and device identifiers. These parameters are changed or verified during the installation process to ensure that policies are bound to specific devices, allowing flexible distribution while maintaining strict control over where policies can be installed.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for installing policy settings on a client computing device are provided. In some aspects, the client computing device receives policy data and a public key from a server. The policy data are authenticated based on the public key. Policy settings based on the authenticated policy data are installed on the client computing device. Installing the policy settings based on the authenticated policy data on the client computing device includes storing information based on the policy data in a module on the client computing device. The module is secured by the public key from the server and a signature generated on the client computing device to prevent the stored information from being moved or copied by a user of the client computing device.