Hardware Security Module Concurrent Key Decryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-frequency client-server transaction environments face significant downtime and transaction loss during cryptographic key updates, which is unacceptable for secure and reliable payment processing applications.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing hardware security modules to decrypt messages using both old and new cryptographic keys concurrently, allowing seamless transition from one key to another without disrupting service by generating and transmitting notifications to client devices to update their encryption methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic keys are periodically updated to maintain security, then security is improved, but system downtime increases and transactions are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary key generation and validation before the actual key update. A new key is generated and validated in advance, ensuring it works correctly before switching from the old key, thereby preventing downtime caused by faulty key updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary key validation mechanism that acts as a mediator between the old and new cryptographic keys. The validation server serves as an intermediary to verify the new key's functionality before full deployment, preventing direct failed key transitions that would cause downtime.
2Reliability
If cryptographic keys are updated frequently to maintain security, then security is improved, but transaction loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of the new cryptographic key through a validation server before actual use. This advance verification ensures the new key is functional and secure, preventing transaction loss that would occur if a defective key were deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a cushioning mechanism by maintaining both old and new keys during the transition period. The validation server acts as a cushion, allowing the system to test the new key without risking actual transactions, thereby preventing transaction loss during key updates.
3Productivity
If the system maintains high transaction throughput, then productivity is improved, but the complexity of key management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the key validation functionality into a separate validation server, removing the complexity of key management from the main transaction processing system. This separation allows high transaction throughput to continue while key management complexity is handled independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The validation server acts as an intermediary between the cryptographic key management system and the transaction processing system. It handles the complex key validation tasks while allowing the main system to maintain high productivity without direct involvement in key management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and techniques for changing cryptographic keys in high-frequency transaction environments to mitigate service disruptions or loss of transactions associated with key maintenance. In various embodiments, a server device can employ a working key encrypted with a first master key to decrypt messages being communicated from a client device, whereby each message is encrypted with a first cryptogram that was generated based on the working key encrypted with the first master key. While the working key encrypted with the first master key is being employed, the server device can generate a notification including a second cryptogram generated based on the working key encrypted with a second master key for transmission to the client device. The transmitted notification can cause the client device to encrypt the messages being communicated with the second cryptogram. The server device can concurrently employ the working key encrypted with one of the first and second master keys to decrypt messages received from the client device, whether encrypted with the first cryptogram or the second cryptogram.