VPN Server Configuration via Volatile Memory Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VPN server configurations are vulnerable to unauthorized access and configuration drift, which can compromise sensitive information and disrupt VPN services.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves installing an initial operating system on volatile memory, requesting, receiving, and installing a VPN operating system from an infrastructure device, thereby obviating the use of non-volatile memory for storing the VPN operating system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the VPN operating system is stored on non-volatile memory, then the VPN server can maintain persistent configuration, but the system becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access and configuration drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the VPN operating system from non-volatile memory storage and relocates it to volatile memory only. This removal of the VPN OS from persistent storage eliminates the security vulnerability of unauthorized access to configuration data while maintaining the ability to load authorized configurations from the infrastructure device.
Solution Approach 2:
The infrastructure device performs preliminary authentication and configuration validation before transmitting the VPN operating system to the VPN server. This preliminary action ensures that only authorized configurations are loaded into volatile memory, preventing configuration drift and unauthorized access before the system operates.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the VPN operating system is stored on volatile memory only, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but the system requires continuous network connectivity to maintain configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The infrastructure device serves as an intermediary between the centralized configuration source and the VPN server. It authenticates the VPN server, validates configurations, and transmits the VPN operating system to volatile memory. This intermediary role simplifies configuration management while maintaining security by offloading authentication and validation responsibilities from individual VPN servers.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional VPN server configuration is used with non-volatile memory, then configuration persistence is maintained, but configuration drift and security vulnerabilities occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent treats the VPN operating system configuration as a temporary, disposable entity that resides only in volatile memory during operation. Instead of persisting configurations in non-volatile memory where they can drift or become compromised, the system reloads authenticated configurations from the infrastructure device as needed, ensuring configuration integrity while accepting the temporary nature of persistent storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A method including storing, by a virtual private network (VPN) server, an initial operating system in a memory associated with the VPN server; transmitting, by the VPN server while executing the initial operating system, a request to obtain a VPN operating system to enable the VPN server to provide VPN services; receiving, by the VPN server based at least in part on transmitting the request, the VPN operating system; storing, by the VPN server, the VPN operating system in the memory associated with the VPN server; and executing, by the VPN server, the VPN operating system to provide the VPN services based at least in part on storing the VPN operating system is disclosed. Various other aspects are contemplated.