Cloud Encryption Key Management via Fragment Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud service providers face security challenges due to the shared physical resources in cloud computing environments, necessitating a robust encryption key management system to ensure the confidentiality of data, which depends on the security of encryption keys.
Innovation Solution
An encryption key management system that includes a key access server for encrypting and managing service keys using a master key and a master key management server for distributing and reconstructing key fragments, ensuring separate and secure management of service and master keys, with improved processing performance through scale-out configurations and caching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If encryption technology is used to protect cloud data, then data confidentiality is improved, but the security of the system becomes dependent on key management which may introduce vulnerabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The master key is divided into multiple key fragments using secret sharing schemes, which are then distributed across different storage locations. This segmentation ensures that no single point of failure exists and enhances security while maintaining manageable key storage complexity
Solution Approach 2:
A key management server is introduced as an intermediary component that handles key fragment distribution, reconstruction, and management operations. This intermediary abstracts the complexity of key management from the cloud service system while providing reliable key protection
2Reliability
If a separate encryption key management system is implemented, then key security is improved, but system complexity and operational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The key management server automatically performs key fragment distribution, reconstruction, and rotation operations without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complex key operations, reducing operational overhead while maintaining high security standards
Solution Approach 2:
Key fragments are pre-distributed and stored in secure locations before actual data encryption operations begin. This preliminary preparation of key infrastructure reduces operational complexity during data processing while ensuring key security
3Reliability
If multiple service key requests are processed sequentially, then key security is maintained, but processing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Service keys are pre-generated and encrypted with the master key, then stored in a key cache. This preliminary preparation allows rapid retrieval of service keys without requiring real-time master key access, thereby improving processing performance while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The system caches service keys in advance, performing more key preparation operations than immediately necessary. This excessive preliminary action ensures that key retrieval operations can proceed rapidly when needed, improving processing throughput without compromising security
4Reliability
If master key fragments are distributed across multiple locations, then key security against single-point failures is improved, but key reconstruction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The key management server acts as an intermediary that coordinates the collection and reconstruction of key fragments from distributed locations. It manages the reconstruction process automatically, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining the security benefits of distributed storage
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms to track the status of key fragments and coordinate their reconstruction. This feedback loop automates the complex reconstruction process, making it manageable while ensuring reliable key recovery from distributed fragments
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system of encryption key management, which is used by a service provision server which provides a cloud service. The system comprises a key access server which encrypts the service key using a master key corresponding to the service key and provides the service key in response to a service key request from the service provision server and a master key management server which extracts a plurality of key fragments from the master key, processes the extracted key fragments to be stored in a distributed manner, and provides the master key reconstructed from the key fragments in response to a master key request from the key access server.