Distributed Trust Hierarchy for Compromise Detection in Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed systems face challenges in managing security and resource costs due to potential compromises, especially when relying on a single certificate authority that can be compromised, leading to widespread system vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implement a security framework that distributes authority among data processing systems based on a hierarchy established using weighted reputations and connectivity, allowing for efficient identification and remediation of compromised systems, reducing resource costs and minimizing impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single certificate authority is used to manage security in distributed systems, then security management is simplified, but the system becomes vulnerable to widespread compromise when the authority is breached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized certificate authority into multiple distributed authority nodes organized in a hierarchical structure. Each node manages a specific subset of the distributed system, dividing the security management function across multiple independent entities. This segmentation reduces the impact of compromise to localized segments while maintaining overall system security through the hierarchical arrangement where higher-level nodes can validate and revoke lower-level nodes.
2Reliability
If authority is distributed among multiple data processing systems, then system reliability improves, but the complexity of managing trust relationships increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the distributed authority structure, organizing nodes into multiple levels rather than a flat peer-to-peer arrangement. This hierarchical dimensionality allows trust relationships to be managed systematically through parent-child node relationships, where higher-level nodes issue and can revoke credentials for lower-level nodes. This dimensional organization simplifies trust management compared to fully flat distribution while maintaining the reliability benefits of distributed authority.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive monitoring and validation of all data processing systems is performed, then compromise detection accuracy improves, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by having each data processing system perform validation and monitoring primarily for its local subset of the hierarchy rather than comprehensively checking all systems. Higher-level nodes validate lower-level nodes within their jurisdiction, creating localized validation zones. This approach maintains high detection accuracy for compromises within each local zone while reducing overall resource consumption by eliminating redundant cross-validation across the entire distributed system.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems can secure distributed systems. The distributed systems may include data processing systems subject to compromise by malicious entities. If compromised, the data processing systems may impair the services provided by the distributed system. To secure the distributed systems, the data processing systems may implement a security framework. The security framework may utilize a hierarchy that defines authority for validating trusted entities. The hierarchy may vest authority across the distributed system, and may be based on a reputation (e.g., weighted reputation) of each of the data processing systems within the distributed system. If the reputation of a data processing system meets criteria based on active and passive monitoring, the data processing system may be treated as being compromised and a local refresh of security data may be performed. Consequently, the impact of compromise of the data processing system may be limited by the distributed authority.