Key Template for Multi-Cloud Cryptographic Key Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cryptographic key management processes are complex and require multiple specialized skillsets, lack enforcement of naming conventions, and necessitate individual key uploads to each cloud, complicating the management of cryptographic entities across multiple cloud boundaries.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a key template to simplify key management by configuring and modifying keystores, generating cryptographic keys, and creating transformation structures, while enforcing separation of duties and supporting multi-cloud operations through a guided orchestration process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic keys are managed individually across multiple cloud environments, then each cloud can be securely configured, but the operational complexity and time required for key management increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments key management into distinct operational phases: key generation, transformation structure creation, and keystore deployment. Each phase can be executed independently and reused across multiple cloud environments, reducing redundant work and management time while maintaining security standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring key templates with all necessary parameters, naming conventions, and security policies before actual key generation. This pre-configuration enables automated key deployment across multiple clouds without manual intervention, significantly reducing key management time while preserving security requirements.
2Reliability
If cryptographic keys are generated and deployed manually to each cloud environment, then security control is maintained, but the complexity of managing multiple specialized skillsets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The key template serves as a universal configuration object that can be applied across multiple cloud environments with different keystore agents. The transformation structure acts as a multi-functional adapter that translates the template into cloud-specific formats, eliminating the need for separate manual configuration processes for each cloud while maintaining security control through centralized template management.
Solution Approach 2:
The transformation structure functions as an intermediary layer between the centralized key template and diverse cloud keystores. It automatically adapts the template configuration to each target cloud's requirements, reducing management complexity by eliminating the need for specialists to manually configure each cloud environment while preserving security through the intermediary's automated validation.
3Manufacturing precision
If cryptographic keys are uploaded individually to each cloud, then naming conventions can be enforced, but the productivity and efficiency of key deployment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Naming conventions and key attributes are predefined in the key template before deployment. This preliminary configuration ensures consistent naming across all clouds while enabling automated batch deployment, significantly improving productivity compared to individual key uploads. The template acts as a reusable blueprint that enforces naming standards without requiring manual intervention for each key.
Solution Approach 2:
The key template serves as a master copy that can be replicated and applied across multiple cloud environments. By copying the pre-configured template rather than creating keys individually, the system maintains naming convention enforcement through template inheritance while dramatically improving deployment efficiency through automated replication to multiple targets.
4Reliability
If multiple specialized skillsets are required for cryptographic key management, then security functions can be properly executed, but the ease of operation and accessibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The key template and transformation structure enable self-service key deployment by automating the complex processes that previously required specialized skillsets. Users can deploy cryptographic keys across multiple clouds by simply configuring a template, with the system automatically handling transformation and deployment. This maintains security through automated validation while dramatically improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for cryptographic specialists.
Solution Approach 2:
The transformation structure acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between simple template configuration and complex cloud-specific key deployment requirements. It automatically handles the specialized cryptographic operations and cloud-specific protocols, allowing users with basic skills to execute secure key management across multiple environments without needing to master multiple specialized skillsets.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product for implementing encryption key management is provided. The method includes connecting a hardware device to a keystore agent comprising a system configured to manage one or more keystores holding one or more cryptographic key instances. A key template is configured to define an attribute for generating cryptographic keys. The key template is modified such that the keystore component is added to the key template and instances of associated cryptographic keys are generated. Each instance is installed within the keystore component and associated attributes associated with data for consumption are generated. A key event log defining all events associated with a given key of the associated cryptographic keys with respect to a lifetime of the given key is generated and a repository comprising key templates and associated key data is maintained.