Context-Based Conditional Access Gateway for Cloud Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cloud service access systems require users to manually select accounts and may not dynamically adjust security measures based on context, leading to inefficiencies and potential security gaps when accessing multiple accounts or confidential information.
Innovation Solution
A context-based conditional access system that uses a cloud service access and information gateway to automatically select user accounts and request additional authentication factors based on the context of the access request, including user identity, device type, network security, and information type, to grant secure and efficient access to cloud services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single sign-on system manages multiple user accounts for cloud services, then user authentication capability is improved, but account selection complexity increases for users
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines which user account to use based on the accessed cloud service, eliminating the need for manual account selection. The gateway autonomously matches the cloud service with the appropriate account from the user's multiple accounts, making the system self-serve the account selection task.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple cloud service accounts. It receives authentication credentials, determines the appropriate account based on the cloud service being accessed, and automatically selects and uses the correct account, thereby mediating the complex account selection process.
2Reliability
If static configuration requires second authentication factor for confidential information access, then security level is improved, but access efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary authentication steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether to require a second authentication factor based on the type of information being accessed. Instead of a static configuration, the gateway evaluates the information type in real-time and adaptively applies authentication requirements, requiring enhanced authentication only when confidential information is accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication requirement parameter changes based on the information type. The system adjusts the authentication level dynamically - using only the first authentication factor for public information and requiring a second authentication factor for confidential information, thereby optimizing both security and efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual account selection is required for cloud service access, then account access flexibility is improved, but user time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple user accounts and their associated cloud services in the gateway. When a user accesses a cloud service, the gateway has already prepared the account mapping, enabling automatic selection without requiring the user to manually choose an account at the moment of access.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway automatically performs the account selection task that would otherwise require user intervention. By analyzing the cloud service being accessed and autonomously determining the appropriate account, the system eliminates the time-consuming manual account selection process while maintaining flexible account access.
Data Source
AI summary
A cloud service access and information gateway receives a first authentication factor for a user in a single sign-on system. The single sign-on system provides access to a plurality of cloud services. The gateway receives, from a user device, a request to access a cloud service of the plurality of cloud services. The gateway compares a context of the request to an access policy for the single sign-on system and grants conditional access to the cloud service based on the access policy.