Unified Data Access Proxy for Consistent Multi-Source Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ingesting data from disparate sources in computing environments presents challenges, including managing security, developing compatible interfaces, and enforcing consistent access controls across multiple data platforms, with a need for an intuitive user interface for data administrators.
Innovation Solution
A unified and secure data access platform that generates access tokens for users, associates them with roles and policies, and uses policy agents to authorize data access, allowing centralized policy management and secure data proxies for structured and unstructured data sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data is ingested from disparate sources across multiple platforms, then data availability and versatility are improved, but security management and access control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data proxy as an intermediary component that sits between the LLM application and diverse data sources. This proxy handles authentication, authorization, and data access requests centrally, eliminating the need for separate security implementations at each data source. The proxy translates various data source protocols into a unified interface while maintaining security policies centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
The data proxy is designed as a universal component that can interface with multiple types of data sources (structured databases, unstructured file systems, object stores) through a single implementation. It provides multi-functional capabilities including authentication, authorization, data retrieval, and protocol translation, replacing the need for multiple specialized security components.
2Reliability
If separate access controls are implemented at each remote data source, then local security requirements are met, but system complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all access control functions into a single centralized data proxy component. Instead of distributing security controls across multiple remote data sources, the proxy consolidates authentication, authorization, and access management in one location. This unified approach maintains security while reducing the number of separate control mechanisms from N (one per data source) to 1.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts security management functions from the remote data sources and consolidates them in the data proxy. By taking out authentication and authorization logic from individual data sources and centralizing it in the proxy, the system reduces complexity at data sources while maintaining comprehensive security control through a single manageable component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If compatible interfaces are developed for each data source, then data access functionality is improved, but development time and interface complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The data proxy implements a universal interface layer that handles communication with diverse data sources through a single standardized API. Instead of developing separate compatible interfaces for each data source type, the proxy provides multi-functional support for databases, file systems, and object stores through unified data retrieval methods, significantly reducing development effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The data proxy acts as an intermediary that translates between the unified LLM application interface and the diverse protocols of remote data sources. This mediation layer eliminates the need for the application to develop multiple specialized interfaces, as all data source communications are handled through the proxy's standardized interface.
4Ease of operation
If centralized policy management is implemented, then ease of operation and policy consistency are improved, but authentication and authorization complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the data proxy continuously monitors data access patterns and policy effectiveness. This feedback enables automated policy adjustments and anomaly detection, reducing the operational burden on administrators while maintaining robust authentication and authorization through adaptive security measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The data proxy incorporates self-service capabilities for common authentication and authorization tasks. It automatically handles token validation, user permission verification, and data source credential management without requiring manual intervention for routine operations. This self-service approach simplifies policy management while maintaining sophisticated security through automation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for a unified and secure data access platform that generates an access token for the user that uniquely identifies the user in the platform. The user may be registered with the platform and associated with an access role, policy/access level, and the access token. The access token may be associated with a data record that is maintained at the policy server containing the information about the user (e.g., access role, policy/access level, etc.). Using the token, the platform can confirm authorization to access multiple points throughout the workload and data access to improve data security throughout the lifecycle.