Centralized SSH Key Management System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing SSH keys in large network environments is challenging due to the proliferation of untracked trusted relationships, varying implementations of SSH systems, lack of centralized key management, and difficulties in tracking key usage and security policies, leading to potential tampering and key rotation failures.
Innovation Solution
A centralized key management system that discovers, stores, and manages SSH keys, implementing policies for key rotation and trust relationships, using agents to enforce compliance and report out-of-policy conditions, and providing a rollback function for key rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If SSH keys are managed decentralized across multiple systems, then each system can operate independently, but key tracking and policy enforcement become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized key management server as an intermediary between SSH clients and servers. This server maintains a database of all SSH keys and their usage policies, enabling centralized tracking and policy enforcement while allowing decentralized SSH operations to continue independently. The mediator resolves the contradiction by providing central oversight without disrupting local system autonomy.
2Loss of information
If SSH key management is centralized, then key tracking and policy enforcement improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The key management server performs multiple functions within a single system: it stores SSH keys, enforces policies, tracks key usage, and manages key rotation. By consolidating these functions into one universal system rather than separate components, the patent reduces overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive key tracking capabilities.
3Productivity
If SSH keys are allowed to proliferate for automation, then productivity increases, but security risks from tampering increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring and logging of SSH key usage through the centralized management server. The system tracks when keys are used, by whom, and for what purposes, providing feedback mechanisms that enable detection of unauthorized or suspicious key usage. This feedback loop maintains security oversight while allowing extensive key proliferation for automation purposes.
4Reliability
If key rotation is implemented frequently, then security is enhanced, but operational disruptions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements key rotation by first generating new key pairs and pre-configuring them in the centralized database before actually rotating them on SSH systems. The system prepares replacement keys in advance, validates them, and only then performs the rotation, minimizing operational disruption. This preliminary action ensures security enhancement while maintaining operational continuity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Example embodiments include centralized systems for managing cryptographic keys and trust relationships among systems. Embodiments may include a centralized key store and a centralized policy store. Key sets comprising public/private keys may be stored in or identified by key objects. Key objects within the key store may be organized into key sets and trust sets. Policies may apply at any level within the key store. Policies and associated keys may be grouped and organized to manage groups of keys according to common policies and to present complex relationships to a user. Lower level keys may inherit policy properties from higher levels. Higher levels may be locked to preclude changes at lower levels. Policies may include a variety of properties/fields to facilitate key management. Policies may determine what actions are taken with respect to a key or group of keys.