Gateway for Secure Remote Software Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication protocols, such as TFTP, used for transferring files to and from remote target devices over untrusted networks like the Internet lack robust security features, making them vulnerable to attacks, and the use of separate VPNs or network setups can be impractical.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device employs a zero trust security architecture with mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS) protocol to secure communications between the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and the target device, while using insecure protocols like TFTP between the gateway and the target device, maintaining isolation from customer networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vulnerable communication protocols such as TFTP are used for target provisioning, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary between the IDE and the target device. It establishes a secure encrypted connection with the IDE while allowing the target device to use the simpler TFTP protocol to communicate with the gateway. This mediator approach allows the untrusted target device to be provisioned securely without requiring the target device itself to implement complex security protocols.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate VPN or network setup is used to secure communications, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway combines multiple functions into a single device: it acts as a secure communication endpoint, a TFTP server for provisioning, and an execution environment for application code. By merging these functions, the system avoids the complexity of setting up separate VPN infrastructure while maintaining security through the encrypted connection between the gateway and the IDE.
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway device configured to receive, from an integrated development environment (IDE), a system configuration for a target device including application code for execution on the target device, the configuration being received via an encrypted network connection. The gateway device provisions the target device with the application code, receives, from the IDE, instructions via the encrypted network connection to execute the application code on the remote device and instructs the application code to execute on the remote device.