Secure Compute Layer for Multi-Service File Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing systems face challenges in consistently managing virtual machines across different software versions and securely interacting with network-based services, leading to complexity and inefficiency, particularly in maintaining compatibility and ensuring privacy and security.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtualized service device within a client computing device, backed by a secure compute layer, allows for standardized system calls to interact with network-accessible services, reducing complexity and enhancing security by offloading processing and eliminating the need for encryption and decryption between the client device and the secure compute layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If virtual machines are managed with different software versions by different administrators, then privacy and security are improved, but compatibility and consistent operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service layer as an intermediary between virtual machines and network services. This service layer handles version-specific service calls and translates them into compatible operations, allowing different virtual machine software versions to access network services without direct compatibility issues. The service layer absorbs the complexity of version differences while maintaining secure isolation between virtual machines.
2Adaptability or versatility
If network-accessible services are accessed directly by virtual machines, then service functionality is improved, but complexity of managing different software versions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the service access logic from individual virtual machines and consolidates it into a centralized service layer. This service layer manages all interactions with network-accessible services, handling version-specific service calls and translating them into unified operations. This extraction reduces the complexity at the virtual machine level while maintaining full service functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If encryption and decryption are performed between client device and secure compute layer, then security is improved, but processing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication and trust establishment between the client device and secure compute layer before data processing begins. Once trusted, the system eliminates the need for continuous encryption and decryption of data in transit, as the secure channel is already established. This preliminary action maintains security while significantly improving processing efficiency by removing the computational overhead of continuous cryptographic operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for implementing a multi-service file system for a hosted computing instance via a locally-addressable secure compute layer. Software within the instance can submit file operations to the secure compute layer, which the secure compute layer can translate into calls to one or more network-accessible storage services. To provide a multi-service file system, the secure compute layer can obtain mapping data mapping file system objects within the virtualized file system to different network-accessible storage services. On receiving a file operation, the secure compute layer can determine one or more network-accessible storage services corresponding to the file operation, and submit appropriate calls to the one or more network-accessible storage services. By varying the calls for file operations, various functionalities, such as data backup, write staging, read caching, and failover can be implemented independent of both operation of the hosted computing device and the network-accessible storage services.