Multi-Administrator Access Control for Secure User Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic mail, data storage, and cloud storage systems allow unrestricted access to user accounts by system administrators, enabling unauthorized actions such as impersonation and data manipulation without user knowledge, necessitating secure access control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A secure access control system that requires a concert of action by multiple system administrators to access or modify user data, utilizing a secure access processor to manage access permissions and ensure that only when a preset minimum number of administrators agree can changes be made to user credentials or data, with notifications sent to additional administrators for consent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If system administrators are given unrestricted access to user accounts and data, then system administrators can perform administrative tasks such as creating, reading, editing and deleting user data, but this creates security risks allowing unauthorized access and impersonation without user knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments administrative authority by dividing the system administrator role into multiple independent administrators. Each administrator holds only a portion of the master password or authentication credentials, and no single administrator can access user data alone. This segmentation prevents unauthorized access while maintaining administrative functionality through collaborative action.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where multiple system administrators must collectively authenticate to gain access. The system requires concurrent authentication from multiple administrators, acting as intermediaries that verify each other's credentials before granting access. This intermediary layer prevents direct unauthorized access while enabling legitimate administrative tasks.
2Reliability
If multiple system administrators are required to access user data, then security is enhanced by preventing unauthorized access, but this increases system complexity and may reduce operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal authentication mechanism that handles both security verification and access control in a single integrated process. The same multi-administrator authentication system serves multiple functions: verifying credentials, enforcing access policies, logging actions, and managing sessions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex subsystems while maintaining security.
3Reliability
If multiple system administrators must act in concert to access user data, then the risk of misconduct is reduced, but this may increase the time required for administrative tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication where multiple administrators verify their identities and authority before the actual data access occurs. The system pre-validates all administrator credentials and establishes the authorization framework in advance, so that when administrative tasks need to be performed, the verification process is already complete or can proceed quickly through pre-established trust relationships.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system and method for providing secure access control to an electronic network or device. By limiting the ability of a single administrator to act unilaterally without the agreement and/or notification of further system administrators, the data integrity and security of stored data, such as email accounts, may be enhanced and risk of compromise ameliorated. By permitting multiple administrators acting in a concert of action to access stored data, such as without notification of the email account holder, potential misconduct by email account holders may be audited.