Just-in-Time Access Control for Cloud Data Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud computing environments face challenges in incident management and software deployment due to data control policies that limit access to restricted data and the control plane, often resulting in insufficient personnel and expertise to handle incidents effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing just-in-time (JIT) access mechanisms that allow DevOps personnel to access cloud computing resources on a limited and time-bound basis, based on JIT policies that include geolocation and screening criteria, ensuring that access is restricted and controlled to maintain data security and compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data control policies restrict access to restricted data and control plane to authorized personnel only, then data security and compliance are maintained, but the number and expertise of personnel available to handle incidents becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic access control where personnel credentials are evaluated in real-time against JIT policies. Access rights are not static but change based on the incident context, time of request, and policy conditions. This allows the system to adapt access permissions dynamically to balance security requirements with incident response needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary credential evaluation mechanism that sits between the incident response personnel and the restricted data/control plane. This intermediary automatically evaluates credentials against JIT policies and mediates access requests, enabling external personnel to access restricted resources without compromising the fundamental security controls.
2Reliability
If access to cloud computing resources is restricted to authorized personnel only, then data control policies are complied with, but incident management efficiency decreases due to insufficient personnel availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary credential evaluation against JIT policies before granting access. By pre-establishing policy rules and evaluating credentials in advance of actual access needs, the system prepares access decisions ahead of time, reducing the time required for incident response while maintaining compliance checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service incident management capabilities where authorized personnel can request and receive access automatically through the JIT credential evaluation process. This reduces dependency on manual approval processes and accelerates incident response time while maintaining policy compliance through automated evaluation.
3Productivity
If external devices are allowed to access cloud computing environment for incident management, then incident handling capability improves, but risk of unapproved access to restricted data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where access decisions are continuously monitored and evaluated against JIT policies. The system provides feedback loops that track credential validity, policy compliance, and access patterns, enabling real-time detection and prevention of unapproved access attempts while facilitating legitimate incident management activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-evaluating credentials against JIT policies before granting any access to external devices. This preventive measure blocks potential unapproved access attempts before they can occur, while allowing legitimate incident management personnel to access restricted resources through policy-compliant credential verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A JIT service in a cloud computing environment manages just-in-time access to resources in the cloud computing environment for an external device. When JIT access to a resource is requested by a device, the JIT service retrieves a JIT policy for the resource that includes screening criteria limiting automatic granting of JIT access to users who meet the screening criteria. Screening information for a user associated with the request is evaluated against one or more screening requirements set forth by the screening criteria. If the screening criteria and any other criteria of the JIT policy are satisfied, the JIT service provisions JIT access to the resource for the device.