Cryptographic Access Control and Risk Scoring for Insider Threats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security measures are vulnerable to insider threats, as insiders can exploit authentication and access control systems to access sensitive data or systems, particularly when monitoring is reduced or bypassed.
Innovation Solution
A two-level framework using unique cryptographic keys and machine learning to verify user identity and permissions, combined with continuous monitoring for unusual activity, to grant or deny access to system resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional authentication and access control systems are used, then ease of operation is improved, but security against insider threats deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication and access control process into multiple independent components: cryptographic key verification, behavioral biometric analysis, risk scoring, and dynamic access decisions. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific security functions, making the overall system more robust against insider threats while maintaining ease of operation through automated multi-factor verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic keys and behavioral biometric analysis as intermediary layers between the user and system resources. These intermediaries verify user identity and assess risk without requiring direct trust in the user, thereby enhancing security against insider threats while preserving operational convenience through seamless automated verification.
2Reliability
If cryptographic key verification is implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where user devices automatically generate, store, and present cryptographic keys without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously performs key verification, behavioral biometric analysis, and risk assessment, reducing the operational complexity burden on users while maintaining high security standards through automated cryptographic processes.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If continuous monitoring is performed, then threat detection capability is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic behavioral biometric analysis and risk reassessment at key system interaction points rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic action maintains effective threat detection capability by analyzing user behavior at critical moments (authentication, resource access, privilege escalation) while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring of all system activities.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed relating to cybersecurity. In an example, data encrypted according to a cryptographic key assigned to a user device requesting to use one or more system resources can be received. An authenticity of the cryptographic key can be verified for the user device. A level of security risk posed by the request from the user device to an organization can be determined (e.g., using a machine learning model), and a risk score indicative of the level of security risk posed by the request to the organization can be outputted. The user device is granted access to use the one or more system resources in response to the determining that the risk score is less than or equal to the risk score threshold, or denied to use one or more system resources in response to determining that the risk score is greater than the risk score threshold.