Rootless File Server for Secure Data Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data management systems face challenges in securely managing sensitive data over distributed networks, particularly in preventing unauthorized access and managing encryption keys when user permissions change, as root access can compromise security and conventional methods are impractical for modifying file permission systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a rootless file server service that maintains trust certificates and a private key on a secure hard drive accessible only to the kernel, restricting root access and using a random key for data encryption, backup, and restore operations, ensuring secure data management without exposing keys to root resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If root access is allowed for file permission management, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to potential key compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the key management functionality from the root file system access and places it in a separate secure key container that is inaccessible to root processes. This separation allows file permission management to continue operating normally while preventing root from accessing the encryption keys, thus resolving the contradiction between operational ease and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary key container that mediates between the root file system and the encryption keys. This intermediary layer allows file permission operations to proceed without exposing keys to root, as the key container acts as a controlled interface that prevents direct root access to sensitive cryptographic material.
2Reliability
If encryption keys are stored securely inaccessible to root, then data security is improved, but ease of operation is worsened due to restricted access
Solution Approach 1:
The key container is configured to automatically manage encryption keys without requiring root intervention. The system performs self-service key management operations including key generation, storage, and retrieval through controlled interfaces, eliminating the need for root access while maintaining security. This resolves the contradiction by making the system secure yet operationally simple through automation.
3Reliability
If data is encrypted with multiple keys for different users, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened due to key management overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple user-specific encryption keys into a unified key container structure managed by a single cryptographic service. Instead of distributing separate key management mechanisms across multiple processes, the system combines key storage and management functions into one centralized, secure location that serves all users, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining individualized security controls.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for secure data management in a distributed environment are provided. A secure server includes a modified operating system that just allows a kernel application to access a secure hard drive of the secure server. The hard drive comes prepackaged with a service public and private key pair for encryption and decryption services with other secure servers of a network. The hard drive also comes prepackaged with trust certificates to authenticate the other secure servers for secure socket layer (SSL) communications with one another, and the hard drive comes with a data encryption key, which is used to encrypt storage of the secure server. The kernel application is used during data restores, data backups, and/or data versioning operations to ensure secure data management for a distributed network of users.