Credential Rotation and Temporary Accounts for Secure Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional credential management systems face security risks and inefficiencies due to the use of shared administrative passwords, manual password management, and lack of scalability, leading to potential unauthorized access and errors in password updates.

Innovation Solution

A credentials security system that automatically manages credentials using centralized policies, rolling over passwords periodically or based on triggers, and provides temporary user accounts, ensuring secure and scalable access control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If shared administrative passwords are used across multiple computing systems, then ease of operation is improved, but security reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the shared administrative password into individual unique credentials for each computing system. Instead of one password for multiple systems, each system receives its own credential, eliminating the security risk of shared passwords while maintaining ease of operation through automated credential distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing customized unique credentials to each specific computing system rather than a universal password. Each system has its own credential characteristics, allowing tailored security management while maintaining operational simplicity through centralized automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If manual password management is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by automating the credential management process. The system automatically generates, distributes, and rotates credentials without requiring manual intervention from support staff, thereby maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving productivity through elimination of repetitive manual tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring credential rotation schedules and policies before they are needed. The system proactively manages credential lifecycles, automatically updating credentials before expiration and notifying relevant parties in advance, thus improving productivity without complicating operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If frequent password changes are implemented, then security reliability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity reliabilityVSAvoidloss of time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by implementing automated credential rotation that operates continuously without interrupting system operations. The credential changes occur seamlessly in the background, maintaining security reliability through frequent updates while eliminating time loss by removing the need for manual intervention during rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary automated credential management system that mediates between security requirements and operational continuity. This intermediary handles all credential rotation tasks automatically, allowing frequent password changes for security while preventing time loss by eliminating manual update requirements for end users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If centralized credential management is implemented, then security reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a centralized credential management system that performs multiple functions: credential generation, distribution, rotation, and monitoring. This multi-functional approach improves security reliability through centralized control while reducing perceived complexity by consolidating what would otherwise be multiple separate systems into one unified platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12531854B2Credentials security management

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 THE 20 LLC

AI summary

A credentials security system receives, from a requester computing system, a request for access to the specified computing system. The credentials security system returns, to the requester computing system responsive to receiving the request, credentials for an account present on the specified computing system. The credentials security system modifies, responsive to returning the credentials to the requester, the account on the specified computing system.