Third-Party Key Manager Integration for Client-Controlled Cloud Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud storage systems often require customers to host cryptographic keys within the service provider's infrastructure, limiting control over encryption and decryption of sensitive data, which is undesirable for users with highly sensitive data.
Innovation Solution
Integrate third-party encryption key managers with cloud services, allowing clients to store keys in their own infrastructure or trusted third-party services, ensuring separation between keys and data, and enabling control over key usage and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cloud service providers host cryptographic keys within their own infrastructure, then key management is simplified and integrated, but clients lose control over encryption and decryption of their sensitive data
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments key management into two independent parts: the cloud service provider hosts encrypted keys (key encryption keys) while the client retains control of decryption capabilities (data encryption keys). This segmentation allows the cloud infrastructure to provide hosting services without compromising client control over actual key decryption and data encryption operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary key management architecture where the cloud service provider acts as a mediator that hosts encrypted key materials but cannot decrypt them. The client's key management service acts as another intermediary that holds the actual decryption capability. This intermediary structure enables both cloud-hosted convenience and client-controlled security.
2Adaptability or versatility
If clients store cryptographic keys in their own infrastructure or third-party services, then control over encryption and decryption is maintained, but system complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal key management interface that works across different infrastructure types (cloud-hosted, on-premises, third-party). The key management service provides multi-functional capabilities including key generation, encryption, decryption, and rotation through standardized APIs, allowing clients to use the same control mechanisms regardless of where keys are physically stored.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the cloud service provider receives encrypted key materials, stores them securely, and returns confirmation of successful storage. The client's key management service receives decryption requests, performs decryption operations, and returns decrypted keys only when authorized. This feedback loop ensures proper integration while maintaining clear boundaries between service responsibilities.
3Productivity
If cloud service providers have access to plaintext cryptographic keys, then encryption operations can be performed efficiently, but security risks increase for highly sensitive data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the plaintext key from the cloud service provider's environment entirely. The key encryption key never exists in plaintext within the cloud provider's infrastructure - it remains encrypted or in a form that cannot be decrypted by the provider. Only the client's key management service has access to the actual decryption capability, ensuring that even if the cloud provider is compromised, the plaintext keys remain secure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a dimensional separation between key storage and key decryption capabilities. The cloud service provider operates in one dimension (hosting encrypted key materials) while the client's key management service operates in another dimension (holding decryption capabilities). This dimensional separation allows encryption operations to remain efficient through standardized interfaces while security is maintained through architectural separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for integrating third-party encryption managers with cloud services includes receiving, at data processing hardware, an operation request requesting a cryptographic operation on data comprising an encryption operation or a decryption operation. When the operation is an encryption operation, the method includes transmitting a data encryption key associated with the data to a remote entity. The remote entity encrypts the data encryption key with a key encryption key and transmits the encrypted data encryption key to the data processing hardware. When the operation is a decryption operation, the method includes transmitting the encrypted data encryption key to the remote entity which causes the remote entity to decrypt the encrypted data encryption key with the key encryption key and transmit the decrypted data encryption key and transmit to the data processing hardware.