Key Management Service Reencryption via Pre-Generated Queues

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern computing systems face challenges in maintaining data security as cryptographic keys evolve over time, requiring significant resources to manage and update encryption keys to ensure data integrity, especially in complex organizational environments.

Innovation Solution

A key management service provides a web service API for customers to manage cryptographic keys, allowing operations such as reencryption, key generation, and decryption, with features like pregenerating key pairs and storing them securely within a queue to reduce latency and improve flexibility in encryption protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cryptographic keys are updated frequently to maintain data security, then data security is improved, but the time and resources required for key management increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidtime for key management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates cryptographic key pairs and stores them in a queue before they are needed. When reencryption is required, pre-generated keys are immediately available for use, eliminating the time-consuming key generation process during critical operations. This preliminary preparation of cryptographic materials resolves the contradiction by ensuring security keys are ready in advance without requiring frequent manual key management updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If cryptographic keys are updated frequently to maintain data security, then data security is improved, but the resources required for key management increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidresources for key management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Key pairs are pre-generated and queued in advance during periods of lower system demand, distributing the computational resource consumption over time rather than concentrating it during reencryption operations. This eliminates resource spikes associated with on-demand key generation while maintaining security through ready-to-use cryptographic materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically manages the queue of pre-generated key pairs, selecting and providing keys for reencryption operations without requiring manual intervention. This automated self-service approach reduces the human resources and operational overhead associated with frequent key updates, while the system continues to maintain high data security standards through systematic key rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If key management operations are performed manually to ensure data integrity, then data integrity is maintained, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The key management system operates autonomously with automated queue management, key selection, and reencryption execution. The system self-regulates the entire key lifecycle from pre-generation through deployment without requiring manual orchestration, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining data integrity through systematic automated processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-generated key queue acts as an intermediary layer between key generation and reencryption operations. This intermediate buffer decouples the complexity of key management from the critical reencryption path, allowing the system to maintain data integrity through automated processes while presenting a simplified interface to users and applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Quantity of substance

If key pairs are generated on-demand to reduce storage requirements, then storage efficiency is improved, but the latency of key availability increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage for key pairsVSAvoidlatency of key availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates and queues multiple key pairs in advance, storing them temporarily for immediate use. This preliminary preparation creates a buffer of ready-to-use cryptographic materials that eliminates generation latency during reencryption operations. The trade-off of increased short-term storage is justified by the elimination of time-critical key generation delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The key queue operates dynamically, with keys being added through pre-generation and removed through automated selection for reencryption operations. This dynamic management allows the system to maintain an optimal balance between storage consumption and key availability, adjusting the queue contents based on actual reencryption需求的 rather than maintaining static key storage or experiencing on-demand generation delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11626985B1Data reencryption techniques
Publication Date: 2023.04.11 AMAZON TECH INC
  • US11626985B1 patent drawing
  • US11626985B1 patent drawing
  • US11626985B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for reencrypting data. A key management service receives a web service application programming interface or other request to reencrypt data from a first key to a second key, where the first key and the second key are managed by the key management service on behalf of a user of the service. The key management service response to the request by performing the associated operations and providing a response with the reencrypted data.