Secure Service Delegator for Automated IHS Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for configuring and provisioning Information Handling Systems (IHS) devices are impractical and insecure, particularly when devices need to be pre-provisioned with trust for customer-specific services, as they require manual intervention or factory-based trust configurations, which are impractical and insecure.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secure service delegator system where client devices, manufactured with a global shared certificate, connect to a delegator server to identify and access customer-specific delegate provisioning servers, enabling automated provisioning without manual setup or shared trust configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration is performed by IT department for each IHS device, then security and monitoring can be ensured, but the provisioning process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The IHS device automatically performs self-provisioning by initiating a request to the provisioning service upon first activation, obtaining credentials and configuring security settings without manual intervention. This eliminates the time-consuming manual configuration process while maintaining security through automated credential acquisition and application.
2Adaptability or versatility
If factory-based custom imaging is performed on IHS devices, then customer-specific security configurations can be applied, but devices from existing inventory cannot be efficiently re-provisioned
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning process is segmented into two phases: initial device manufacturing with generic credentials, and post-deployment customer-specific provisioning through automated interaction with the customer's provisioning service. This allows devices from existing inventory to be efficiently re-provisioned for different customers without factory-based re-imaging, while still applying customer-specific security configurations.
3Ease of operation
If employees re-image their own IHS devices, then logistical complexity is reduced, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-provisioning where the IHS device automatically contacts the customer's provisioning service, authenticates itself, and receives configured credentials without employee intervention. This maintains security through automated authentication and credential management while keeping logistics simple by eliminating the need for IT department manual configuration.
4Reliability
If a locally deployed provisioning service is used, then customer-specific trust can be established, but there is no way to pre-provision trust for devices from manufacturer inventory
Solution Approach 1:
The device is pre-configured with a shared certificate during manufacturing that enables it to automatically establish trusted communication with the customer's provisioning service upon activation. This preliminary trust configuration allows fully automated credential acquisition and provisioning without manual trust establishment, while ensuring the device can only communicate with authorized customer services.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a secure service delegator. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) operated by a manufacturer of a client device provided to a customer enterprise may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may include program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: receive, from the client device via a secure connection, a request to obtain a provisioning credential; identify a delegate provisioning server associated with the customer enterprise; and enable the client device to access the delegate provisioning server and to retrieve the provisioning credential from the delegate provisioning server.