Encryption Key Management for Automated Workflows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing encryption techniques in group-based communication systems lack granular access control and server-based functionality, making them unsuitable for automated workflows, as they either restrict access entirely or compromise security when access is open.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for providing encryption key management within an automated workflow in a group-based communication system, allowing for granular control over access by retrieving organization-specific decryption keys, decrypting workflows, and re-encrypting responses, enabling interactions with users while maintaining security and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If end-to-end encryption is implemented, then security is improved, but server-based functionality and granular access control are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The encryption system is segmented into multiple components: end-to-end encryption for security, plus a separate key management system that enables granular access control. The workflow encryption keys are managed independently from message encryption keys, allowing different access policies for different data types while maintaining overall security.
Solution Approach 2:
A key management server acts as an intermediary between users and encrypted workflows. This intermediary can selectively grant decryption access based on user roles and permissions, enabling granular control without compromising the end-to-end encryption model. The key server mediates between the need for security and the need for accessible functionality.
2Reliability
If access is restricted entirely, then security is improved, but server-based functionality such as message search and file sharing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Workflows are encrypted in advance with specific keys before being stored on the server. This preliminary encryption allows the server to store and manage encrypted workflows without being able to read their contents, maintaining security while enabling server-based functionality like search and sharing of encrypted data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates encrypted copies of workflows that can be stored and manipulated on the server without compromising security. These encrypted copies enable server-based functionality while the original security properties are maintained through the encryption layer.
3Device complexity
If all-or-nothing permission restrictions are applied, then implementation simplicity is improved, but user experience and functionality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different permission levels and encryption keys are applied to different workflows and data types locally. Instead of a single all-or-nothing permission model, the system allows fine-grained permission assignment where different users can have different levels of access to different encrypted workflows based on their roles and needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Media, system, and method for providing encryption key management to an automated workflow within a group-based communication system. The automated workflow is encrypted using an organization-specific encryption key and is stored in a data store. Responsive to a triggering event, the encrypted workflow is retrieved from the data store to be decrypted and a corresponding decryption key is retrieved from a key store. The decrypted workflow performs a series of steps responsive to determining that a trigger condition has been met. The steps may be associated with at least one of sending a form and sending a message to a user within the group-based communication system.