Secure I/O Module for Peripheral Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective methods to authenticate and secure communications with peripherals attached to computers, particularly in environments handling sensitive information, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access and data theft.
Innovation Solution
A secure provisioning manifest and secure I/O module are implemented to authenticate peripherals and establish encrypted sessions, creating a separate secure execution environment that prevents malicious access to sensitive information, using a processing element, memory, and software to control secure communications independently of the standard execution environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If peripherals are allowed to attach to computers without authentication, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened making systems vulnerable to unauthorized access and data theft
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication of peripherals before allowing them to attach and communicate with the computer. The secure I/O module verifies peripheral identity and establishes encryption keys before enabling any data transmission, preventing unauthorized devices from accessing sensitive information.
Solution Approach 2:
The secure I/O module acts as an intermediary between peripherals and the computer system. It mediates all communications by authenticating peripherals, establishing encrypted sessions, and controlling data flow, thereby securing the interface without preventing legitimate peripheral operation.
2Device complexity
If standard execution environment is used for all operations, then device complexity is reduced, but security is worsened allowing malicious software to access sensitive information
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the execution environment into two distinct parts: a standard execution environment for general operations and a secure execution environment for sensitive operations. The secure I/O module and its authentication functions reside in the secure environment, isolated from malicious software in the standard environment, while maintaining controlled communication between them.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a secure provisioning manifest used to authenticate and communicate with peripherals attached to a computer. A secure I/O module, that is separate from an operating system and transaction software executed by a processor of the computer, uses the secure provisioning manifest to establish a secure encrypted session for communicating with each peripheral attached to the computer when a peripheral is authenticated and able to establish a secure encrypted session.