Hierarchical Key Caching in Edge Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud computing architectures face challenges in providing fast and secure access to function-as-a-service (FaaS) systems, particularly in managing and caching private keys, due to the unbounded number of users and the need for reduced latency and improved cache management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an accelerated hierarchical key caching system using edge appliance devices that maintain a secure key cache, allowing for key caching and pre-fetching across the network hierarchy, with per-tenant logic for eviction and pre-fetching, and secure access logic to manage key access and storage efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If keys are cached at the edge appliance device, then key access latency is reduced, but cache management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The key caching system is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels: edge appliance devices (L3 cache), regional cache servers (L2 cache), and centralized key management servers (L1 cache). Each level manages a subset of keys and handles specific access patterns, dividing the overall cache management complexity into manageable segments while reducing access latency for frequently used keys at the edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching and caching keys at edge appliance devices before they are actually needed. The key management logic predicts which keys will be needed based on access patterns and proactively loads them into the local cache, reducing future access latency while spreading out the cache management workload over time.
2Speed
If secure key caching is implemented at the edge, then access speed improves, but security requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different security measures are applied at different hierarchical levels based on local requirements. Edge appliance devices implement basic authentication and encryption for local cache protection, while centralized key management servers implement more rigorous security controls for key generation and distribution. This local quality approach enables fast access at the edge while maintaining strong security where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The key management logic acts as an intermediary between the FaaS instance and the key cache, as well as between different cache levels. It handles authentication, authorization, and secure key transmission, mediating security requirements and enabling fast access without compromising security by centralizing security functions at appropriate hierarchical levels.
3Productivity
If hierarchical key caching is implemented across the network, then key access performance improves, but network architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a hierarchical dimension to the key caching architecture, organizing caches across multiple levels (edge, regional, centralized) rather than using a single flat cache structure. This hierarchical dimension enables performance optimization by serving keys from the closest available cache level while managing complexity through clear role definitions at each hierarchical level.
Solution Approach 2:
The key management logic is designed with multi-functionality to operate across different hierarchical levels and handle various key access scenarios. It can function as a key generator, cache manager, authentication server, and key distributor depending on the context, reducing the need for separate specialized components and simplifying the overall network architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies for accelerated key caching in an edge hierarchy include multiple edge appliance devices organized in tiers. An edge appliance device receives a request for a key, such as a private key. The edge appliance device determines whether the key is included in a local key cache and, if not, requests the key from an edge appliance device included in an inner tier of the edge hierarchy. The edge appliance device may request the key from an edge appliance device included in a peer tier of the edge hierarchy. The edge appliance device may activate per-tenant accelerated logic to identify one or more keys in the key cache for eviction. The edge appliance device may activate per-tenant accelerated logic to identify one or more keys for pre-fetching. Those functions of the edge appliance device may be performed by an accelerator such as an FPGA. Other embodiments are described and claimed.