Selective Container Image Encryption via Layer Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container image encryption methods are inefficient as they encrypt the entire image, leading to increased startup times, management issues, and performance impacts, especially in deployment environments that require decryption support, which can be slow and complicate deployment processes.
Innovation Solution
Implement a focused encryption method that encrypts only sensitive data layers into a single layer, allowing for runtime decryption using a dedicated decryptor layer, thus avoiding the need for environmental modifications and minimizing performance impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire image is encrypted to protect sensitive data, then data protection level is improved, but container startup time increases and deployment performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the container image into multiple layers and selectively encrypts only the sensitive data layers rather than the entire image. This segmentation allows the non-sensitive layers to remain accessible and loadable without decryption overhead, thereby reducing container startup time while still protecting sensitive information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality treatments to different parts of the image: sensitive layers are encrypted with high security measures, while non-sensitive layers remain in plaintext for fast access. This local differentiation optimizes both security and performance by applying encryption only where necessary.
2Reliability
If the entire image is encrypted and transported as a blob, then data protection is improved, but management complexity and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the image into sensitive and non-sensitive layers, the patent avoids the need to manage and decrypt large encrypted blobs. Only the small sensitive layers require encryption management, significantly reducing the complexity of deployment environments while maintaining data protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sensitive data layers from the overall image structure and handles them separately with encryption, while the bulk of the non-sensitive image data remains unencrypted and easily manageable. This extraction approach simplifies deployment by isolating the complex encryption management to only the necessary portions.
3Reliability
If decryption is performed on large encrypted images, then data protection is maintained, but processing time and performance impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the decryption process to apply only to sensitive layers rather than the entire image. This selective decryption dramatically reduces processing time and computational resources required, thereby improving deployment performance while maintaining data protection for sensitive information.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing full image decryption, the patent applies partial decryption only to the extent necessary for protecting sensitive data. This partial action approach minimizes performance impact while achieving the security goal.
Data Source
AI summary
One example method includes inserting a signal layer in an image, the signal layer indicating that a sensitive layer in the image is a candidate for encryption, creating a single layer archive file that includes the sensitive layer, encrypting the single layer archive file to create an encrypted layer, constructing a new image that includes the encrypted layer, inserting, in the new image, a decryptor layer that is operable to decrypt the encrypted layer, and designating the decryptor layer as an entry point of the new image.