Multi-Region Encrypted Data Key Structures for Regional Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryptographic key management systems struggle with the challenge of performing cryptographic operations across multiple geographical regions, as keys are often region-specific and failures in one region can disrupt availability.
Innovation Solution
A computing resource service provider implements a cryptography service across multiple compute regions, generating a highly-available encrypted data key structure that can be decrypted across regions, using region-specific managed keys and an endpoint routing service to route requests to available compute regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic operations are performed using region-specific managed keys in independent compute regions, then cryptographic security and region independence are improved, but key availability across multiple regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The encrypted data key structure is segmented into multiple encrypted data keys, each encrypted with a different region-specific managed key. Each segment can be independently decrypted by the corresponding region's cryptography service instance, allowing the system to maintain region independence while enabling cross-region availability through selective decryption of available segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The encrypted data key structure is designed as a universal container that can be decrypted by any cryptography service instance in any compute region. By encrypting the same data key with multiple region-specific managed keys and combining them into a single structure, the system achieves multi-functionality where the same encrypted structure serves all regions equally.
2Ease of operation
If a single compute region's cryptography service instance is used, then operational simplicity is improved, but system availability deteriorates when that region becomes unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-encrypting the data key with multiple region-specific managed keys from different compute regions before distributing the encrypted data key structure. This advance preparation ensures that when the system needs to decrypt, it can immediately use any available region without delay, as all necessary encrypted segments are already in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates redundancy by encrypting the data key with managed keys from multiple regions, providing a cushion against regional failures. If one region becomes unavailable, the other encrypted segments serve as a backup, ensuring continuous operation without single-point failure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cryptographic keys are encrypted with multiple region-specific managed keys, then cross-region decryption capability is improved, but data structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The encrypted data key structure employs a nested organization where multiple encrypted data keys are contained within a single structured container. Each encrypted data key is nested within the overall structure, associated with its corresponding compute region. This nesting allows the system to manage multiple encrypted segments systematically while presenting a unified interface for decryption operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing encrypted cryptographic keys. A system obtains a request to generate a data key. The system generates the data key and a data structure comprising the data key encrypted with keys from a set of compute regions. The system provides the data structure and the data key in response to the request. The data structure can be used to obtain the data key contingent on at least one compute region of the set of compute regions being available.