Content-Based Device Trust Checks for Secure E-Signatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to establish comprehensive trust levels for user devices, particularly in content management systems, leading to inadequate security in accessing sensitive information, as they do not consider the nature of the specific information sought to be accessed.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a two-step device trust processing system that evaluates user devices and content objects based on environmental conditions, device history, and content-specific information to make fine-grained access control decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passwords and multi-factor authentication are used to vet users, then authentication reliability is improved, but the ability to assess overall device trustworthiness for specific operations remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the trust assessment into separate dimensions: user authentication (handled by passwords/MFA) and device trustworthiness assessment (handled by the content-based trust system). This allows each dimension to be optimized independently, with the device trust component analyzing factors like network security, device configuration, and content type before allowing access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a content management system as an intermediary that sits between the authentication layer and the actual data access. This intermediary performs content-based trust assessments and can prevent access even to authenticated users if the device or environment is deemed untrustworthy for the specific content being accessed.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If deep packet inspection is used to observe network traffic, then network security monitoring is improved, but the ability to assess overall device trustworthiness for specific operations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs trust assessments in advance before allowing access to content. The system evaluates device trustworthiness, network security, and content type beforehand, and only allows access if the preliminary assessment passes. This prevents the need for continuous monitoring during access operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the assessment parameters from network traffic analysis (deep packet inspection) to device and content attribute analysis. Instead of monitoring what data is transmitted, the system evaluates the trustworthiness of the device, user, and content characteristics to make access decisions.
3Ease of operation
If content management systems allow access based on user authentication alone, then ease of operation is improved, but security against mal-appropriation of sensitive information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes access control dynamic by continuously evaluating multiple factors including user authentication, device trustworthiness, content type, and network environment. Access is not a static permission but a dynamic decision that can change based on the current state of these factors, allowing the system to adapt to different risk scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops that continuously monitor device behavior, network conditions, and access patterns. This feedback information is used to update trust assessments and adjust access decisions in real-time, allowing the system to respond to changing security conditions while maintaining ease of operation for trusted users.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer program products for content management systems. Multiple components are operatively interconnected to carry out operations for establishing a user device trust level. A content management system facilitates interactions between a plurality of user devices and a plurality of shared content objects. The plurality of user devices are network connected to the content management system. One of the user devices issues a request to access a particular one of the content objects. Responsive to the request, a two-step device check is performed before granting access to the particular one of the content objects. A first step of the two-step device check process is based on environmental information, and a second step of the two-step device check process is based at least in part on analysis of the content of the particular one of the content objects. The actual bits of the content object itself are inspected.