Secure Cloud Proxy for Desktop Management Credential Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cloud desktop service systems require broad access to cloud provider APIs, compromising security and violating encapsulation principles, as they need to manage virtual machines and resources across different cloud providers.
Innovation Solution
A secure Cloud proxy service system is interposed between the cloud provider API and the desktop service system, providing a controlled interface that manages communication and access to cloud resources, storing credentials securely and using API adaptors to interact with various cloud providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the desktop service system directly accesses cloud provider APIs to manage virtual machines and resources, then the system can effectively control and orchestrate cloud desktops, but the security credentials for cloud provider APIs are exposed and vulnerable to unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud proxy service as an intermediary component between the desktop service system and cloud provider APIs. The proxy service holds the security credentials and manages all communications with cloud providers, allowing the desktop service system to control cloud resources without directly accessing or exposing credentials. This mediator pattern resolves the contradiction by enabling full management capability while eliminating credential exposure.
2Productivity
If the desktop service system integrates with specific cloud provider APIs to manage virtual machines, then the system can perform precise cloud resource orchestration, but the system becomes tightly coupled to specific cloud providers and loses adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cloud management system into distinct layers: the desktop service system layer that handles high-level orchestration logic, and the cloud proxy service layer that handles provider-specific API interactions. This segmentation allows the desktop service system to maintain provider-agnostic management capabilities while the proxy service handles the complexity of specific cloud provider APIs, enabling both efficient orchestration and adaptability to multiple providers.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud proxy service acts as a mediator that translates between the desktop service system's abstract resource management requests and the specific implementations required by different cloud providers. This intermediary layer enables the system to work with multiple cloud providers without tight coupling, as the proxy service handles all provider-specific logic and API variations.
3Speed
If the desktop service system stores and manages cloud provider credentials directly, then the system can quickly authenticate and manage cloud resources, but the credentials become vulnerable to security breaches and unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud proxy service serves as a secure intermediary that stores and manages cloud provider credentials. The desktop service system can quickly request cloud resource access without handling credentials directly, as the proxy service already has authenticated sessions and can rapidly provision resources. This maintains access speed while eliminating the security vulnerability of credential exposure in the desktop service system.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for isolating security credentials from a desktop management system using security Cloud proxy to communicate with a Cloud service provider system. Application programming interface (API) credentials are stored in a credential store managed by a secure proxy service system protected by a security environment. The secure proxy service system is interposed between the Cloud provider system and the desktop management service system. An operational request from the desktop service system is received by the secure proxy service system. The desktop service system is in network communication with a user device accessing the Cloud provider system. An API credential is retrieved from the credential store to authorize the operational request. An API adaptor is activated to communicate with an application programming interface (API) of the Cloud provider system to allow the Cloud provider to perform operational request.