Federated Key Management with Tenant-Isolated Key Stores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distributed computing environments lack robust security measures for managing cryptographic keys, leading to potential unauthorized access and data breaches, especially in multi-tenant systems where keys are shared among various entities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cryptography service that manages and enforces policies on cryptographic keys, using secure key management techniques, including automatic rotation, enforced access controls, and federated key management to prevent unauthorized use and ensure secure data operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cryptographic keys are shared among multiple entities in distributed computing environments, then key accessibility and operational flexibility are improved, but security risks and unauthorized access potential increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments key management by creating separate key stores for different tenants and implementing granular access control lists (ACLs) that divide key access permissions among multiple entities. Each tenant has isolated key storage with controlled access paths, preventing unauthorized cross-tenant access while maintaining operational flexibility within each tenant's key space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary key management service that mediates all key access requests between entities and cryptographic operations. This service enforces access control policies, audits key usage, and manages key rotation without exposing raw keys to end entities, thereby maintaining security while enabling broad key accessibility.
2Reliability
If key rotation is implemented to enhance security, then unauthorized access prevention is improved, but system complexity and operational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated key rotation where the key management service autonomously generates new keys, updates access control lists, and rotates encryption keys without manual intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of key rotation scheduling, key generation, and distribution, reducing operational overhead while maintaining enhanced security through regular key rotation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If federated key management is implemented across multiple organizations, then collaboration and data sharing are improved, but control over cryptographic assets and security policy enforcement become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal key management framework that handles both internal and federated key operations through a common interface and policy enforcement mechanism. The system manages local tenant keys and federated shared keys using the same access control model and rotation protocols, enabling multi-organization collaboration while maintaining centralized policy control and simplified operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system uses information submitted in connection with a request to determine if and how to process the request. The information may be electronically signed by a requestor using a key such that the system processing the request can verify that the requestor has the key and that the information is authentic. The information may include information that identifies a holder of a key needed for processing the request, where the holder of the key can be the system or another, possibly third party, system. Requests to decrypt data may be processed to ensure that a certain amount of time passes before access to the decrypted data is provided, thereby providing an opportunity to cancel such requests and/or otherwise mitigate potential security breaches.