Local CA Certificate Exchange for Server Trust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Obtaining a signed SSL certificate from a globally trusted Certificate Authority (CA) is a time-consuming and manual process, especially when deploying new servers that require secure connections with existing servers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a local Certificate Authority (CA) operated by the same entity as the authenticated server, which generates and transmits a signed certificate to unauthenticated servers after verifying their login credentials, allowing for secure connections without relying on third-party CAs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a globally trusted CA is used to sign SSL certificates for new servers, then security and trust are ensured, but the process becomes time-consuming and manual
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the CA trust model into two levels: a root CA that remains globally trusted and stores private keys securely, and multiple subordinate CAs that can be distributed to different servers. This segmentation allows each server to have its own subordinate CA for rapid certificate issuance while maintaining trust through the root CA hierarchy, thus resolving the contradiction between security (global trust) and speed (local certificate acquisition).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having servers pre-fetch and store public keys from CAs (both root and subordinate) before they are needed for SSL connections. This pre-caching of CA public keys eliminates the need for real-time CA server communication during certificate verification, thereby reducing certificate acquisition and verification time while maintaining security through the established CA hierarchy.
2Productivity
If a local CA is implemented for rapid certificate issuance, then deployment efficiency improves, but the need for global CA trust is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both global and local CA models by implementing a hierarchical structure where subordinate CAs (local) operate under the authority of a root CA (global). This combination allows servers to issue certificates rapidly through local subordinate CAs while maintaining security through the global root CA trust anchor. The merge resolves the contradiction by integrating local efficiency with global reliability in a unified certificate infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces subordinate CAs as intermediaries between the root CA and end servers. These intermediary subordinate CAs can be distributed to individual servers for rapid local certificate issuance, while still maintaining the trust chain back to the globally trusted root CA. This intermediary layer enables local autonomy for fast deployment while preserving global trust validation through the unbroken certificate chain to the root CA.
3Reliability
If manual certificate acquisition from global CA is used, then security standards are met, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling servers to autonomously obtain certificates from their local subordinate CAs without requiring manual administrator intervention for each certificate issuance. Servers can automatically request and receive certificates from their distributed subordinate CAs, which in turn maintain their signing authority through the root CA. This self-service capability reduces operational complexity while maintaining security through the automated certificate chain validation against the root CA.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal certificate infrastructure where a single root CA can serve multiple subordinate CAs, and each subordinate CA can serve multiple servers. This multi-functional hierarchy allows the same root CA private key to secure numerous servers through its subordinate CAs, eliminating the need for separate manual certificate management for each server while maintaining consistent security standards through the unified root CA trust anchor.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein describe providing a certificate signed by a local CA to an unauthenticated server rather than obtaining a certificated signed by a third-party CA. A server that already has a certificate that was signed by a third-party CA may want to establish secure connection with an unauthenticated server which does not have a signed certificate. The unauthenticated server needs a certificate signed by a CA trusted by the server that already has a signed certificate (referred to herein as the authenticated server). To do so, the unauthenticated server sends login credentials to the authenticated server so that this server knows it can trust the unauthenticated server. In turn, the authenticated server can send its signed certificate to the unauthenticated server so it can verify the authenticated server. Once verified, the authenticated server generates a signed certificate for the unauthenticated server using a local CA.