Cross-region Secret Replication via Re-encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Companies face challenges in securely managing sensitive data across different geographic locations, as existing methods are often time-consuming, error-prone, and require significant resources to implement custom solutions for secret management across various regions.
Innovation Solution
A secrets management system (SMS) that enables cross-region replication of secrets through a graphical user interface, command line interface, and application programming interface, allowing users to create, replicate, rotate, and manage secrets across multiple regions with strong security measures, including encryption and access control, using customer-specified key management systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If companies manage secrets across different locations using existing methods, then security is maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple secret management operations (creation, replication, rotation, deletion) into a unified secrets management service that operates across multiple AWS regions through a single interface. This merging eliminates the need for separate manual processes in each region, reducing time consumption while maintaining security through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces AWS Secrets Manager as an intermediary service that mediates secret management operations across different AWS regions. This intermediary handles the complexity of cross-region replication, encryption key management, and synchronization automatically, reducing manual effort and errors while maintaining security standards.
2Adaptability or versatility
If companies develop custom solutions to manage secrets across locations, then control is improved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal secrets management service that can operate across multiple AWS regions with a single deployment. This multi-functional service provides creation, replication, rotation, and deletion capabilities in one system, eliminating the need for separate custom solutions in each region and reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining full control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service automation where the secrets management service automatically handles cross-region replication, encryption, and synchronization without requiring manual intervention. This automation reduces the need for dedicated human resources and infrastructure while maintaining adaptability through programmable interfaces.
3Productivity
If secrets are replicated across multiple regions, then access efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the secrets management system into region-specific secrets stores that are logically connected through the unified AWS Secrets Manager service. Each region maintains its own secret copies with local encryption keys, providing fast local access while the service layer manages the complexity of cross-region synchronization and security policies centrally.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes techniques for managing the replication of a secret across different regions. A secrets management system (SMS) may be used to manage replication of secrets across different regions of the cloud that are in different geographic locations. Different input mechanisms, such as an API, a UI, or a CLI may be utilized to manage the replication of secrets. In some examples, upon detection of a replication message, the SMS reads the message, identifies the secret, and performs an action involving the secret. For instance, a secret identified within the replication message is accessed from the current region, and the secret is re-encrypted using a customer specified KMS key using customer credentials. The secret is then packaged into a secret replication message. An SRS in the replicated region reads this new secret replication message, accesses the secret that was replicated, and saves the secret in the replicated region.