Secure Proxy Fleet Encrypting Sensitive Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large distributed computing systems, securing sensitive data as it traverses various networks is challenging due to increased complexity and the difficulty in identifying vulnerabilities, isolating issues, and ensuring reliable security, especially when intermediaries are involved.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secure proxy fleet that encrypts sensitive data using cryptographic techniques like TLS, SSL, and HTTPS, and employs a data protection module to manage and enforce cryptographic algorithms, ensuring secure data transmission and access control through key management systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure proxy fleet is implemented to encrypt sensitive data, then security of data transmission is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secure proxy fleet as an intermediary component between clients and backend services. The proxy fleet terminates TLS connections, inspects data for sensitive information, and applies additional encryption layers. This intermediary approach improves security by enabling deep inspection and multi-layer encryption without requiring changes to existing client or backend systems, thus resolving the contradiction between enhanced security and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The secure proxy fleet is segmented into multiple specialized components: TLS termination proxies, data inspection modules, encryption application modules, and key management systems. Each component performs a specific function in the security chain. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high security through coordinated specialized functions while managing complexity through modular design, where each segment can be independently configured and maintained.
2Reliability
If data is encrypted using cryptographic techniques, then unauthorized access is prevented, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing TLS connections and applying encryption schemes before data transmission begins. The secure proxy fleet pre-configures encryption parameters, manages cryptographic keys in advance, and sets up secure channels before sensitive data flows through the system. This preliminary preparation reduces real-time processing overhead during actual data transmission, thus mitigating the speed penalty of encryption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different encryption parameters and algorithms based on data sensitivity levels and transmission requirements. The system dynamically adjusts encryption strength, choosing lighter cryptographic schemes for less sensitive data and stronger encryption for highly sensitive information. This parameter optimization balances security requirements with processing speed constraints, reducing unnecessary computational overhead while maintaining adequate protection.
3Reliability
If cryptographic material is managed centrally, then security control is improved, but access difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The key management system implements feedback mechanisms where the centralized cryptographic material management automatically responds to access requests from the proxy fleet. When proxies require cryptographic keys or parameters, the system provides authenticated access through established channels, and monitors usage patterns. This automated feedback loop maintains centralized security control while enabling efficient key distribution and access management without requiring manual intervention for each cryptographic operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computing resource service provider may operate a secure proxy fleet responsible for directing network traffic to one or more backend services. The network traffic may be received over a cryptographically protected communications session at a secure proxy device. The secure proxy device may detect sensitive data included in the network traffic and encrypt the sensitive data to protect the sensitive data during transmission to the backend service.