Dynamic Permission Management for API Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computing environments, permissions assigned to data accessors often become outdated or unnecessary as the use and needs of these accessors change over time, leading to potential security risks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus are disclosed to monitor and manage permissions dynamically, suspending or revoking permissions that have not been utilized for a threshold period of time, while maintaining those that are actively used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If permissions are assigned to data accessors to enable access to interfaces and data, then the data accessors can perform required actions and access information, but permissions may become outdated or unnecessary over time leading to security risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic permission management by continuously monitoring interface access patterns and automatically adjusting permission status. Permissions transition between active, suspended, and revoked states based on real-time usage detection, making the permission system adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by allowing permissions to evolve with actual usage needs while maintaining security through automatic suspension of unused permissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where access monitor continuously observes interface usage by data accessors and feeds this information to the permission controller. The permission controller then adjusts permission status based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring permissions remain appropriate to actual needs through continuous monitoring and adjustment, preventing both over-permissioning and unnecessary access restrictions.
2Reliability
If permissions are monitored and suspended for unused interfaces, then security risks are reduced and system efficiency is improved, but additional monitoring and control mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The permission management system operates autonomously by automatically detecting interface usage patterns and adjusting permissions without requiring manual intervention. The access monitor and permission controller work together to self-regulate permission status based on observed behavior, eliminating the need for complex manual monitoring procedures while maintaining security. This resolves the contradiction by providing automated security management that reduces the operational complexity burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The permission controller serves multiple functions: it receives usage information from the access monitor, determines whether permissions should be suspended or revoked, manages the permission status transitions, and interfaces with the software interface system. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional component, the system reduces overall complexity compared to having separate specialized components for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to manage application access in networked environments are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring accesses made using a credential to a first set of one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) and with a second set of one or more APIs, the credential associated with a first permission for access to the first set of one or more APIs and a second permission for access to the second set of one or more APIs, determining, based on access to one or more APIs of the first set of one or more APIs using the credential, that the first permission is to be suspended, and in response to the determination that the first permission is to be suspended, suspending the first permission while maintaining the second permission.