Secure Component Registration via Nested Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of computer systems increases, maintaining system configuration information becomes challenging, requiring secure registration of hardware and software components while minimizing administrator interaction and preventing unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A method that encrypts configuration information using a first encryption key, which is then encrypted again with a second encryption key, ensuring the information is cryptographically opaque to intermediary systems, allowing secure transmission and registration by a server system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration information is transmitted in plain text to intermediary systems, then the transmission process is simple and fast, but unauthorized users or systems can view the configuration information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the encryption process into two distinct stages: first encrypting configuration information with a session key, then encrypting the session key with a public key. This segmentation allows the configuration data to remain encrypted throughout transmission while enabling the intermediary system to forward it securely without needing to decrypt it, thus achieving both security and operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encryption layer (the session key encrypted with the public key) that acts as a mediator between the configuration information and the intermediary system. This intermediary layer allows the configuration data to be transmitted securely through the intermediary system without requiring the intermediary to access or decrypt the actual configuration information, maintaining security while simplifying the transmission process.
2Productivity
If a system administrator manually requests configuration information from each computer system, then configuration information can be obtained, but the maintenance process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling computer systems to automatically generate and transmit their own configuration information encrypted with their session keys to intermediary systems. The systems perform the encryption and transmission operations autonomously without requiring manual intervention from system administrators, thereby dramatically improving maintenance efficiency and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having each computer system pre-generate and store session keys and configuration information before maintenance operations are needed. When maintenance is required, the systems can immediately transmit their pre-prepared encrypted configuration data to intermediary systems, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual data collection during maintenance windows.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration information is made accessible to intermediary systems for component registration, then component registration can be performed, but unauthorized access to configuration information may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments access rights by separating the configuration information from the encryption keys. The intermediary system receives and processes encrypted configuration data without accessing the underlying plaintext or the session keys, which remain secured with the public key infrastructure. This segmentation enables component registration functionality while preventing unauthorized access to sensitive configuration information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the public key infrastructure as an intermediary mechanism that enables the intermediary system to process configuration information securely. The public key acts as a mediator that allows encryption and verification without requiring the intermediary to possess private keys or access plaintext configuration data, thus enabling component registration while maintaining security against unauthorized access.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that securely registers components in a first system is presented. During operation, the first system receives a request from an intermediary system to obtain configuration information related to the components in the first system. In response to the request, the first system: (1) encrypts configuration information for the first system using a first encryption key; (2) encrypts the first encryption key using a second encryption key; and (3) sends the encrypted configuration information and the encrypted first encryption key to the intermediary system so that the intermediary system can forward the encrypted configuration information and the encrypted first encryption key to the second system, whereby the encrypted configuration information is cryptographically opaque to the intermediary system. Next, the second system uses the configuration information to register the components in the first system.