Cloud Workload Authentication via Cryptographic Identity Exchange

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in data center monitoring and management is authenticating the identity of workloads processed by cloud service providers, as these workloads are not typically linked to pre-provisioned data center asset hardware or firmware.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for performing data center monitoring and management operations by submitting a request for a workload instance to a cloud service provider, establishing a secure communication channel, exchanging information including a verifiable workload instance identity, and using this identity to authenticate the workload instance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cloud service providers process workloads without pre-provisioned hardware or firmware links, then cloud service flexibility and scalability are improved, but workload authentication and identity verification become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecloud service flexibilityVSAvoidworkload authentication difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing secure communication channels and exchanging cryptographic credentials (workload identities, public keys, certificates) between the data center monitoring console and cloud service provider before the workload is actually launched. This pre-provisioning of trust relationships enables subsequent authentication without requiring hardware links at workload launch time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces cryptographic intermediaries (certificates, public keys, signed identities) that mediate between the workload and the monitoring system. Instead of direct hardware-based authentication, these cryptographic artifacts serve as trusted intermediaries that verify workload identity, enabling authentication in virtualized cloud environments where traditional hardware links are absent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If traditional authentication methods are used without cryptographic verification, then system complexity is reduced, but security against malicious usage and cloning is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication system complexityVSAvoidworkload authentication security

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/hardware-based authentication systems with cryptographic software-based verification. Instead of relying on physical hardware links or firmware ties between workloads and monitoring systems, the invention uses digital signatures, public key infrastructure, and cryptographic proof to verify workload identities, achieving higher security without physical constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary cryptographic setup by establishing secure channels and exchanging trusted credentials (certificates, public keys) before workload execution. This pre-established cryptographic trust framework enables secure authentication without requiring complex runtime verification mechanisms, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12225140B2Method and apparatus for external control planes to cryptographically trust software artifacts launched at public cloud providers

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A system, method, and computer-readable medium for performing a data center monitoring and management operation. The data center monitoring and management operation includes: submitting a request for a workload instance to a cloud service provider; establishing a secure communication channel between the cloud service provider and a data center monitoring and management console; exchanging information between the cloud service provider and the data center monitoring and management console via the secure communication channel, the information including a verifiable workload instance identity; and, using the verifiable workload instance identity to authenticate a workload instance provided by the cloud service provider.