Token Kill Sequence for Enterprise Smart Card Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large enterprise configurations, managing and disabling a large number of smart cards or tokens after a security breach or protocol update is inefficient, requiring significant manual effort from administrators to collect, disable, and erase old tokens before reissuing new ones.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a token kill option within an enterprise security system that allows users or administrators to mark tokens for destruction, which, when inserted into a reader, removes private keys and overwrites them with zeros, rendering the tokens inoperable and enabling remote, convenient management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If administrators manually collect, disable, and erase old smart cards, then security management is performed, but significant manual effort and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing tokens to automatically communicate their status and respond to kill commands without requiring manual administrator intervention for each token. The token management system automatically processes kill requests and verifies token status, reducing the burden on administrators while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of collecting and disabling tokens with an automated electronic system. Administrators can remotely issue kill commands through a token management system that automatically transmits the kill sequence to tokens, eliminating the need for physical collection and manual disabling operations.
2Reliability
If a large number of tokens are disabled manually, then security breaches are addressed, but the process becomes inefficient and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple token management operations (identification, verification, and disabling) into a single automated kill sequence process. The token management system combines these functions to enable administrators to disable multiple tokens simultaneously through one command, significantly improving productivity during security breach responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring tokens with unique identifiers and kill sequences during manufacturing and initialization. This preliminary setup enables rapid response to security breaches, as tokens are already prepared to receive and execute kill commands without requiring complex manual configuration during the disabling process.
3Ease of operation
If tokens are remotely disabled through automated systems, then administrative workload is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The token management system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various token operations (enrollment, status verification, and disabling) through a single unified interface. This universal approach simplifies ease of operation by providing consistent methods for different tasks while managing the underlying complexity through standardized protocols and procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment relates generally to a method of managing a token. The method includes marking a token to be killed and detecting a presence of the token. The method also includes disabling the token in response to the marking of the token.