Key Store Microservice for Cloud Identity Key Rollover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud-based identity management systems face challenges in securing access across diverse devices and user types, with existing solutions often failing to provide unified and consistent security across hybrid cloud environments, leading to risks such as unauthorized access and inconsistent security policies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a microservices-based architecture with a key store microservice that generates and rolls over key sets, including previous, current, and next keys with expiration times, stored in a database and memory cache, to ensure secure and scalable identity and access management across multi-tenant environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single key is used for authentication across cloud-based applications, then access is simplified, but security is compromised when the key expires or is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication key is segmented into multiple keys (previous key, current key, next key) that are stored in a key store. Each key has a specific validity period, allowing the system to maintain security by rotating keys while providing continuous authentication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating and storing multiple future keys in advance (current key and next key) before the current key expires. This ensures that key rollover can occur seamlessly without interrupting authentication services.
2Reliability
If keys are frequently rotated to maintain security, then security is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The key store microservice automatically manages the key lifecycle including generation, storage, expiration tracking, and rollover. The system performs self-service by autonomously rolling over keys based on expiration policies without requiring manual intervention, thereby reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The key store acts as an intermediary between authentication services and cryptographic keys. It abstracts the complexity of key management by providing a unified interface for key retrieval and validation, while handling the intricate details of key rotation and versioning internally.
3Reliability
If multiple keys are maintained for rollover, then security is improved through key rotation, but storage and management overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different keys are assigned different qualities based on their lifecycle stage. The previous key is retained for a limited period for rollback capability, the current key is actively used, and the next key is prepared in advance. This local differentiation optimizes storage by keeping only necessary keys at each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system systematically discards expired keys after they have served their purpose and recovers storage space. The key store manages the lifecycle by removing previous keys after the rollback period expires, ensuring that only actively needed keys are retained in storage.
4Reliability
If key expiration is enforced to limit damage from compromised keys, then security is improved, but authentication service continuity may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating and validating the next key before the current key expires. This advance preparation ensures that when the current key reaches its expiration, the next key is already ready and validated, allowing seamless transition without service disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The key store maintains a cushion of validity by keeping the next key ready in advance. This beforehand cushioning ensures that there is always a valid key available for authentication, preventing service disruption even if the current key is compromised or expires unexpectedly.
Data Source
AI summary
Key generation and roll over is provided for a cloud based identity management system. A key set is generated that includes a previous key and expiration time, a current key and expiration time, and a next key and expiration time, and stores the key set in a database table and a memory cache associated with the database table. At the current key expiration time, the key set is rolled over, including retrieving the key set from the database table, updating the previous key and expiration time with the current key and expiration time, updating the current key and expiration time with the next key and expiration time, generating a new key and expiration time, updating the next key and expiration time with the new key and expiration time, and updating the key set in the database table and the memory cache.