Proxy HSM Self-Destruction via Heartbeat Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud-based proxy Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) lack the security assurance provided by on-premise physical HSMs, as they can remain active even after disconnection from the physical HSM, posing a security liability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a proxy HSM is federated from a physical HSM and erases itself if it fails to receive periodic identifying communications from the physical HSM, ensuring secure operation in a cloud environment by maintaining control over encryption keys and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a proxy HSM is deployed in the cloud to enable accessibility for cloud-based transactions, then accessibility and convenience are improved, but security control and trust are worsened because the proxy HSM can remain active even after disconnection from the physical HSM
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a heartbeat mechanism where the physical HSM sends periodic status signals to the proxy HSM. The proxy HSM monitors these feedback signals and compares them against a threshold of expected heartbeats within a time window. When the threshold is not met, indicating loss of connection or unauthorized operation, the proxy HSM automatically erases itself, thus resolving the contradiction by enabling accessibility while maintaining security control through continuous feedback verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures the proxy HSM with a threshold value for expected heartbeats and a time window for their reception. These parameters are set in advance during proxy HSM initialization. When the proxy HSM detects missed heartbeats, it uses these pre-established thresholds to determine when self-erasure should occur, allowing the system to maintain security control while preserving accessibility through automated preliminary safety mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the proxy HSM erases itself immediately upon detecting connection loss, then security control is improved, but system stability and operational continuity are worsened due to potential false positives from temporary network issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes a threshold for the number of expected heartbeats and a time window parameter before operation begins. This preliminary configuration allows the proxy HSM to distinguish between temporary network disruptions (where fewer than threshold heartbeats are missed) and genuine connection failures requiring self-erasure, thereby maintaining security control while preserving system stability through reasoned judgment based on pre-set criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of erasing the proxy HSM immediately upon detecting a single missed heartbeat, the system implements a partial action by requiring multiple missed heartbeats (exceeding the threshold) within the time window before triggering self-erasure. This excessive action requirement filters out false positives from temporary network issues while still achieving the security control objective of removing compromised proxy HSMs, thus balancing security control with system stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes: federating, by a computer device, a proxy hardware security module from a physical hardware security module; storing, by the computer device, the proxy hardware security module; receiving, by the computer device, a first one of a plurality of periodic identifying communications from the physical hardware security module; and erasing, by the computer device, the proxy hardware security module as a result of the computer device not receiving a second one of the plurality of periodic identifying communications.