Multi-Provider Access Control Policy Compilation With Differential Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and analyzing access control policies across multiple provider networks is complex due to architectural and language differences, making it challenging to migrate or reason about access control privileges.
Innovation Solution
Compile access control policies into a unified, provider network-agnostic target language, using automated differential testing to validate accuracy, and employ abstraction and quotienting to simplify and compare policies across networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If access control policies are managed across multiple provider networks using different languages and architectures, then coverage and versatility of network support is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a policy analysis service as an intermediary component that receives access control policies from multiple provider networks, translates them into a common representation, and performs unified analysis. This mediator abstracts the complexity of handling different provider-specific policy languages and architectures, allowing organizations to manage multi-provider policies without directly dealing with each provider's unique complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The policy analysis service implements a universal approach by supporting multiple provider networks (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.) through a single unified interface. The service can analyze access control policies from different providers using the same analysis mechanisms, enabling multi-functionality across diverse network environments without requiring separate management tools for each provider.
2Ease of operation
If access control policies from different provider networks are translated into a unified target language, then ease of operation and analysis is improved, but manufacturing precision and policy behavior integrity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual policy translation and verification processes with automated computational mechanisms. The policy analysis service uses machine-readable representations and algorithmic translation methods to convert provider-specific policies into a unified format, eliminating human error and ensuring consistent, precise translation that maintains policy behavior integrity while improving operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the policy analysis service continuously validates translated policies against the original provider-specific policies to ensure behavioral equivalence. This feedback loop verifies that the unified representation accurately reflects the intent and behavior of source policies, maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling easier operation.
3Measurement precision
If automated differential testing is used to validate policy translation accuracy, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but loss of time and productivity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing policy translation and validation in advance before policies are deployed to production environments. The policy analysis service translates and validates access control policies before they take effect, allowing organizations to identify and correct issues beforehand. This preliminary validation prevents costly errors while the automated nature of the process minimizes the time overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual policy validation processes are replaced with automated differential testing mechanisms that systematically compare translated policies against expected behaviors. This automated substitution performs comprehensive validation much faster than manual methods, improving measurement precision while actually reducing the time loss by eliminating tedious manual verification steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for analyzing access control policies across multiple provider networks. These techniques compile various policies into a unified policy language broad enough to include diverse policy features, yet specific enough for automated analysis. An automated differential testing method is employed to confirm the accuracy of this compilation by generating access requests, ensuring both original and translated policies consistently grant or deny access. Moreover, an abstraction technique is used to simplify and correlate the complex details of different policies, enabling easier user inquiries about them. For instance, users can determine if an account has write access in one network but not in another. This abstraction sometimes involves replacing actions in original policies, ensuring their compatibility in the target policy language.