Virtual Sandbox Database for Secure Multi-Service Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data access systems for large-scale data processing environments with multiple application and storage services are inefficient and cumbersome due to the need for manual configuration and rebuilding of applications on different services, and they struggle to balance data accessibility with security, especially when dealing with sensitive information.
Innovation Solution
A virtual sandbox database that allows users to access a virtual version of datasets with controlled access policies, enabling selective viewing and manipulation of data within a sandbox environment, which can anonymize or restrict access based on predefined policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users manually configure and rebuild applications on different application services, then data access functionality can be adapted to specific services, but the time and effort required for deployment increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a sandbox environment that copies the structure and interface of the production data access system. This sandbox copy allows users to test and configure applications without needing to manually rebuild them on each target service, as the sandbox already provides a pre-configured testbed that mirrors the production environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The sandbox environment performs preliminary configuration and testing actions before actual deployment to production services. Users can validate their data access applications, test queries, and verify functionality in the sandbox beforehand, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual reconfiguration when deploying to different application services.
2Ease of operation
If full access to datasets is provided for testing and analysis, then users can effectively test software and discover trends, but data security and risk mitigation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data access system into two distinct environments: a sandbox environment for testing and analysis, and a production environment for actual data storage. This segmentation allows full access in the sandbox while maintaining security in production, as the sandbox contains a copy or view of the data that can be accessed freely without risking the original dataset.
Solution Approach 2:
The sandbox environment acts as an intermediary between users and the production dataset. Users interact with the sandbox instead of directly accessing production data, which mediates the access control by providing necessary data for testing while preventing direct access to sensitive production systems. This intermediary layer enables security policies to be enforced without compromising testing effectiveness.
3Productivity
If individual configuration is performed for each application service, then specific deployment parameters can be optimized, but the complexity of managing multiple services increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sandbox environment provides universal configuration capabilities that work across multiple application services. Instead of requiring separate configuration processes for each service, the sandbox offers a unified interface and toolset that can be used to test and validate applications regardless of the target service, reducing the perceived complexity while still allowing service-specific optimizations.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual rebuilding of applications is required for each application service, then proper deployment parameters can be set, but the effort and time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sandbox environment enables preliminary configuration and validation of deployment parameters before actual deployment. Users can set and test deployment parameters in the sandbox environment, ensuring accuracy without the need for time-consuming manual rebuilding on each target service. The sandbox serves as a pre-deployment validation stage that confirms parameter correctness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sandbox creates a copy of the production environment structure, allowing users to configure applications once in the sandbox and then deploy to multiple services without manual rebuilding. This copying approach preserves deployment parameter accuracy while eliminating repetitive manual configuration work across different services.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to management of big data storage and data access control systems. In some embodiments, a data access system for use in multiple application service and multiple storage service environments comprises a sandbox database for users, wherein the sandbox database is a virtual database environment via which a user may access datasets according to one or more access policies. In some embodiments, the data access system receives a user request to access a dataset stored in a database into the sandbox environment, wherein the database is associated with the data access system. In response to the request, the data access system may retrieve the corresponding data from the database, determine any associated sandbox access policies, and generate an anonymized data table in the sandbox environment.