Mid-Link Server Isolates Endpoints to Reduce Attack Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Internet architectures, particularly in cloud and hybrid systems, face challenges due to the need for predefined trusted information distribution among devices and services, leading to exposure to malicious attacks and increased complexity, which compromises security and interoperability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Zero Trust and Zero Knowledge Application Access System using Access Resource Servers (ARS) that isolates endpoints, consolidates policy enforcement, and encrypts communications, reducing exposure and complexity by requiring endpoints to initiate outbound connections and validating connections through a secured ARS, thereby masking configuration information and routing network traffic based on dynamic policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If predefined trusted information is distributed among devices and services in current Internet architecture, then interoperability and connectivity are enabled, but exposure to malicious attacks and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the trusted information distribution mechanism from the traditional client-service model and relocates it to a mid-link server positioned between the client and enterprise services. This extraction removes the need for clients to directly hold and manage trusted information about multiple enterprise resources, thereby reducing exposure to attacks while maintaining interoperability through the intermediary server that manages the trusted information centrally
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mid-link server as an intermediary component between clients and enterprise services. This mediator consolidates the policy enforcement and trusted information management functions, allowing clients to connect through a single point of trust rather than requiring direct trusted connections to multiple enterprise resources. The intermediary reduces the attack surface by eliminating the need for clients to directly access and trust multiple enterprise service configurations
2Reliability
If individual client devices authenticate to each enterprise resource individually, then access control is enforced, but configuration details are exposed and connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual authentication relationships into a single authentication relationship. Instead of requiring clients to authenticate separately to each enterprise service (creating multiple trusted connections), the system combines these into one authentication to the mid-link server. This consolidation maintains access control reliability while dramatically reducing connection complexity and the amount of configuration information clients must manage
Solution Approach 2:
The mid-link server serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an authentication authority, a policy enforcement point, and a trusted information repository. By making the intermediary universal and multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for clients to maintain separate trusted relationships with multiple enterprise services, thereby reducing complexity while preserving access control through the server's centralized policy enforcement capabilities
3Ease of operation
If enterprise services require open ports for connection requests, then network accessibility is enabled, but resources become vulnerable to denial of service attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The mid-link server acts as an intermediary that absorbs the impact of denial of service attacks. By positioning the server between external network traffic and enterprise services, it can filter and manage incoming connection requests, allowing legitimate access while blocking or rate-limiting malicious traffic. This intermediary approach maintains network accessibility for authorized users while protecting enterprise services from DoS attacks that would otherwise directly target open ports
4Productivity
If client devices connect directly to enterprise services, then communication efficiency is maintained, but attack surfaces are exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the trusted information management and policy enforcement functions from the direct client-service communication path and places them in a mid-link server. This extraction allows communication to flow through a single trusted intermediary rather than requiring clients to directly trust and connect to multiple enterprise services. The result is reduced attack surface because the intermediary consolidates the trust boundary, while communication efficiency is maintained through optimized routing and caching mechanisms at the server
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing policy-controlled communication over the Internet includes a client endpoint function that executes on a client device while coupled to a first VPN tunnel, a service endpoint function that operates a remote service of a plurality of remote services, and a mid-link server coupled to the first VPN tunnel and a second VPN tunnel. The client endpoint function includes a first VPN endpoint component, and the service endpoint function includes a second VPN endpoint component. A router component operates to route network packet traffic between the first and second VPN tunnels via a route specified by a plurality of policies, an inspection component that analyzes network packet traffic in accordance with the plurality of policies. The plurality of policies for the network packet traffic and the content mediation selected dynamically on the basis of one or more of a user, an application, an endpoint, and a session.