Secure Communication System Verify Then Trust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network security approaches often rely on a 'trust but verify' method, which leaves services vulnerable to malicious access attempts, as they grant access without proper verification of the requesting party's authority before filtering out malicious actors.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'Verify then Trust' approach, where the system authenticates the client's identity and limits access to only authorized services before establishing a secure communication channel, using a software program client, service manager, authorizer, and receiver to manage and authenticate access, ensuring that only authorized users can access protected services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the system grants access without proper verification (trust but verify approach), then access speed and ease of connection are improved, but security and protection against malicious access deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs authentication and service authorization before establishing the communication channel. The service manager verifies the client's identity and determines authorized services in advance, then notifies the receiver to open the channel only after verification is complete. This preliminary verification action ensures security is established before access is granted.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver acts as an intermediary component between the client and protected services. It receives authentication results from the service manager and controls the opening of communication channels accordingly. This intermediary enforces the verification-before-trust approach by blocking unauthorized connections and only allowing access to authenticated clients for their authorized services.
2Reliability
If the system authenticates and limits access before establishing communication channels (verify then trust approach), then security and protection against malicious access are improved, but system complexity and authentication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The security system is segmented into distinct functional components: the service manager handles authentication and service determination, while the receiver handles channel control and verification enforcement. This segmentation allows each component to focus on specific security tasks, making the overall complex security process more manageable and maintainable through clear separation of responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver automatically enforces authentication results by autonomously controlling channel opening based on notifications from the service manager. Once the service manager verifies a client and determines authorized services, the receiver self-manages the channel establishment without requiring additional manual intervention, reducing operational complexity while maintaining security.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all services are exposed to clients without verification, then service accessibility and client freedom are improved, but vulnerability to malicious attempts and unauthorized access increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements differentiated access control where each client receives specific services based on their authentication credentials and authorization level. The service manager determines which services each authenticated client can access, creating localized access rights rather than universal exposure. This ensures clients can access their authorized services freely while other services remain protected from unauthorized access.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver is configured to ignore and block connection requests from non-authenticated entities before they can reach the protected services. By establishing this preliminary defensive barrier that actively rejects unauthorized attempts, the system prevents malicious actors from even attempting to exploit services, while still allowing authenticated clients full access to their authorized services.
Data Source
AI summary
A secure communication system comprises a software program client operating on a host computing device, a service manager configured to manage client access to the protected services, an authorizer in communication between the client and the service manager, and a receiver in communication with the service manager and serves as an interface to the protected services. At least one of a browser and an application of the client is configured to access one or more protected services running on a computing device that is remote to the host computing device over a communication channel. The service manager maintains a list of predetermined services authorized for the client and limits client access to the predetermined services.