Distributed Ledger Network Device Identity Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The proliferation of Internet-enabled consumer devices, or 'smart' devices, has increased the burden of deploying, maintaining, and protecting computing devices and networks, with vulnerabilities leading to unauthorized access and scalability challenges in managing these devices across wired, wireless, and cellular networks.
Innovation Solution
A framework using a distributed ledger system, such as blockchain, for managing network-enabled client devices, which assigns unique identities and employs smart contracts to configure, secure, and administer devices, ensuring auditable records and secure communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distributed ledger system is used to manage network devices, then security and auditability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A distributed ledger service acts as an intermediary between network administrators and client devices, managing identities, credentials, and configuration information. This mediator handles the complexity of blockchain operations while presenting simplified interfaces to users, thereby improving security without requiring end-users to directly manage the complex distributed ledger system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments functionality by separating identity management, configuration management, and device control into distinct modules within the distributed ledger framework. This modular approach allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining security benefits.
2Reliability
If distributed ledger system is used to manage network devices, then auditability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Identities, credentials, and configuration information are pre-established and stored in the distributed ledger before devices need them. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for time-consuming authentication and configuration processes during device operations, while maintaining complete auditability through immutable ledger records.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cryptographic copies and hashes of configuration data stored in the distributed ledger, rather than requiring access to the entire ledger for each operation. This allows rapid verification and processing while maintaining the auditability benefits of the immutable ledger.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional network management is used, then device deployment is simple, but scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed ledger service provides universal identity and configuration management that works across diverse device types, networks, and administrators. This multi-functional platform enables standardized deployment processes that scale from small to large networks without requiring separate management systems, thus improving scalability while maintaining deployment simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for managing a plurality of network-enabled client devices such as networking equipment and Internet of Things (IoT) devices which employs a distributed ledger, or blockchain, to store network configuration information for each client device. Access to the distributed ledger may be provided through a proxy computing system that is configured to exchange control messages with the client devices. Network configuration information is defined in smart contracts stored in the distributed ledger which are executed on registration of the network-enabled client device in the distributed ledger.