Encrypted Fallback Keys in Metadata for Rapid Data Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data storage systems incur significant latency and processing overhead when an operational encryption key becomes unavailable, leading to potential loss of user data and increased processing delays due to the need for manual decryption and extensive search of backup key data sets.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that generates a primary cryptographic recovery key and an alternate cryptographic recovery key, stores an encrypted fallback key in metadata associated with a data set, and uses a Recovery Key Verification Pattern (RKVP) to retrieve the fallback key when the operational key is unavailable, thereby enabling rapid data decryption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual decryption and extensive search of backup key data sets are performed when an operational encryption key becomes unavailable, then data recovery is possible, but significant latency and processing overhead occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing encrypted fallback keys in metadata before the operational key becomes unavailable. When key unavailability occurs, the system immediately retrieves the pre-stored fallback key without needing to perform time-consuming manual decryption or search operations, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable data recovery and minimizing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the operational encryption key in the form of an encrypted fallback key that is stored in metadata. This copy can be rapidly retrieved and used for data recovery without requiring access to the original operational key or performing extensive search operations, thereby reducing latency while maintaining recovery capability
2Reliability
If manual decryption procedures are performed when operational key is unavailable, then data can be recovered, but processing overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encryption of fallback keys using the operational key and stores them in metadata before any key loss occurs. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual decryption procedures during recovery, as the fallback keys are already in the correct encrypted form for immediate use, thereby maintaining data recovery reliability while significantly improving processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The metadata structure automatically contains the encrypted fallback key that can be self-retrieved without requiring manual decryption procedures. The system serves itself by having the operational key encrypt its own fallback copy during normal operation, enabling automated recovery processes that improve productivity while maintaining reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method (CIM), according to one approach, includes generating a primary cryptographic recovery key, and generating an alternate cryptographic recovery key, where the alternate cryptographic recovery key is generated and stored in a cryptographic Hardware Security Module (HSM). The method further includes storing an encrypted fallback key in metadata associated with a data set, where the encrypted fallback key is an operational key encrypted by the primary cryptographic recovery key, and storing a Recovery Key Verification Pattern (RKVP) in the metadata, where the RKVP is associated with the primary cryptographic recovery key and is stored for the primary cryptographic recovery key. In response to a determination that the operational key is unavailable, the encrypted fallback key is retrieved to perform a data decryption operation.