Compliance Access Certificates for Secure Network Service Sessions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network services face challenges in controlling client access based on underlying hardware and software capabilities, leading to increased vulnerability to non-compliant clients, which can result in security breaches and economic losses.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an access control server that verifies client compliance with predefined compliance profiles before and during service sessions using a trusted intermediary, issuing limited-duration access certificates to ensure continuous compliance verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional access control methods are used without compliance verification, then access is simple and fast, but security is compromised and vulnerable to non-compliant clients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a compliance verification server as a trusted intermediary between the service provider and client devices. This server mediates the access control process by verifying client compliance with security policies and issuing access certificates, thereby enhancing security without requiring the service provider to directly implement complex verification logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs compliance verification in advance before granting access to the service. The compliance verification server checks whether client devices meet security requirements (such as having approved security software, proper configurations) before issuing access certificates, preventing non-compliant clients from accessing the service in the first place.
2Reliability
If continuous compliance verification is implemented, then security is enhanced, but computational resources and time are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous verification, the system implements periodic compliance checks at predetermined intervals. The compliance verification server periodically requests updated compliance information from client devices and reissues access certificates when needed, maintaining security while reducing the continuous computational burden on both servers and clients.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses access certificates as copies of compliance verification results. Once a client device is verified compliant, the compliance verification server issues a certificate that serves as proof of compliance for multiple access transactions, eliminating the need to re-verify the same compliance attributes repeatedly and reducing computational overhead.
3Reliability
If strict access control based on hardware and software capabilities is enforced, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compliance verification server autonomously verifies client compliance and makes access control decisions without requiring manual intervention from service providers or administrators. The system automatically checks compliance attributes, validates certificates, and grants or denies access based on policy rules, reducing operational burden while maintaining strict security controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows flexible configuration of compliance parameters and security policies. Administrators can adjust the strictness of compliance requirements, verification intervals, and access certificate validity periods based on service needs, balancing security requirements with operational convenience through parameter tuning rather than rigid fixed rules.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more compliance requirements for accessing a service are provided to a client device by a processing device of an access control server. One or more compliance indicators associated with the compliance requirements are received from the client device. A request for an access certificate to access the service is received from the client device. The compliance indicators are evaluated based on the one or more compliance requirements. In response to determining that each compliance requirement is satisfied by a respective compliance indicator, the access certificate is generated. The access certificate comprises an indication that at least one of the client device, a user of the client device, or a user session on the client device complies with the compliance requirements. The access certificate further comprises a digital signature of the access control server that is verifiable by the service. The access certificate is provided to the client device.