Replication Stream Reuse for Air-Gapped Vault Log Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Air-gapped vault systems are unable to communicate support logs and diagnostic reports to external systems, leading to difficulties in monitoring and analysis, and allowing potential vulnerabilities when direct communication is established.
Innovation Solution
Utilize the existing replication stream between the air-gapped vault and the source system to piggyback logs and reports back to the source, using a Pickup-Send-Phase and Pickup-Receive-Phase to transfer data without compromising security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an air gap is implemented to protect the vault from unauthorized access, then security is improved, but the ability to transfer logs and diagnostic data to external systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The replication stream is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves both as a data replication channel from primary to vault systems and as a bidirectional communication channel for transferring logs, diagnostic data, and health information from the vault to external monitoring systems. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing the same communication pathway to satisfy both security isolation and information transfer requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The replication stream acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables controlled information exchange between the isolated vault system and external systems. By using this established mediator, the vault can transfer necessary operational data without requiring direct external access, thus maintaining security while enabling log transfer
2Productivity
If the air gap is closed to allow data replication, then data transfer capability is improved, but the security protection deteriorates temporarily
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap is closed periodically only when data replication is required, and opened otherwise to maintain security. This periodic closing allows efficient data replication to occur at scheduled intervals while minimizing the time the vault is vulnerable to external access, thus balancing productivity and security
Solution Approach 2:
The replication stream maintains a continuous or near-continuous connection for data replication purposes, allowing the vault to receive updates regularly without requiring repeated air gap closures. This continuity improves replication efficiency while the air gap remains open between replication events, maintaining security protection
3Loss of information
If a new process is created in the vault to send logs to external systems, then log transfer capability is improved, but system complexity and security vulnerability increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a separate dedicated process for log transfer, the system reuses the existing replication stream for both data replication and log transfer purposes. This approach avoids adding system complexity while maintaining the ability to transfer logs and diagnostic information from the vault to external systems
Solution Approach 2:
The log transfer function is merged with the existing data replication process. By combining these two functions into a single communication channel, the system reduces overall complexity and eliminates the need for additional processes, while still achieving both data replication and log transfer objectives
Data Source
AI summary
One example method includes, at a replication data source, initiating a replication process that includes transmitting a replication stream to a replication destination vault, and data in the replication stream is transmitted by way of a closed airgap between the replication data source and the replication destination vault, switching, by the replication data source, from a transmit mode to a receive mode, receiving, at the replication data source, a first checksum of a file, and the first checksum and file were created at the replication destination vault, receiving, at the replication data source, the file, calculating, at the replication data source, a second checksum of the file, and when the second checksum matches the first checksum, ending the replication process.