Endpoint Credential Sync for Secure Multi-Resource Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing user authentication credentials across multiple IT resources are inefficient and insecure, particularly when dealing with resources managed by third-party entities outside a closed network, and often require complex and inconsistent credential updating procedures.
Innovation Solution
An endpoint agent on a user device detects changes in authentication credentials and securely transmits them to a central server, which then updates or sets credentials for various IT resources, including those managed by third parties, using encrypted connections and protocol conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually set and update authentication credentials for each IT resource, then each resource can have strong unique credentials, but the process becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
An endpoint agent is introduced as an intermediary component installed on the endpoint device. This agent automatically captures authentication credentials when the user logs in to the endpoint device and subsequently transmits them to IT resources, eliminating the need for users to manually configure credentials for each resource while maintaining strong unique credentials
2Adaptability or versatility
If different IT resources implement different credential update procedures, then each resource can have customized security policies, but the process of setting credentials becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The endpoint agent is designed as a universal solution that can handle multiple different credential update procedures through a single interface. The agent automatically adapts to different IT resources' requirements by transmitting credentials in the format each resource expects, providing customized security policies without increasing user-facing complexity
3Ease of operation
If a web-based system is used for credential management, then users can update credentials remotely, but security vulnerabilities in the website can compromise credentials
Solution Approach 1:
The credential transmission function is extracted from the web-based interface and implemented locally through the endpoint agent. The agent directly transmits credentials from the endpoint device to IT resources through secure channels, eliminating the need for users to interact with potentially vulnerable web interfaces while maintaining remote update capability
4Reliability
If a closed network infrastructure is used for credential federation, then credentials can be managed securely within the network, but IT resources outside the closed network cannot have their credentials updated
Solution Approach 1:
The endpoint agent is designed to work with both closed network infrastructure and external IT resources. It can transmit credentials to resources within the closed network through established secure channels and also to external resources by establishing secure connections outside the network boundary, providing universal credential management coverage
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for secure endpoint authentication credential control are described. An endpoint agent may receive an indication from an operating system of an endpoint device that the operating has received authentication credentials from a user. The endpoint agent may be housed in the endpoint device, and may detect a change between the received set of authentication credentials and a previous version of authentication credentials. Based on this detection, the endpoint agent may transmit the received authentication credentials to a central server. The central server may transmit the authentication credentials to an information technology (IT) resource which requires user authentication prior to granting access to a user.