Automated Web Site Certificate Installation and Trust
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual installation and configuration of web site certificates, including self-signed and third-party signed certificates, are time-consuming and costly, and result in user interruptions due to untrusted certificate warnings, especially when accessing web sites over the Internet.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising input and signature components that automatically install and trust self-signed and third-party signed web site certificates on web servers and domain clients, enabling Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption, thus eliminating the need for manual trust and reducing setup time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual installation and configuration of web site certificates is performed, then certificate security and validity are ensured, but setup time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating certificate signing requests, selecting appropriate certificate types (self-signed or third-party signed), and pre-configuring certificate installation parameters before actual deployment. This preliminary automation reduces the manual setup time while maintaining security standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The web server and domain clients perform self-service by automatically installing and trusting certificates without requiring manual intervention. The system enables the web server to self-configure SSL encryption and automatically distributes trusted certificates to domain clients, eliminating the need for manual certificate management.
2Reliability
If manual installation and configuration of web site certificates is performed, then certificate security and validity are ensured, but operational costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-service deployment where the web server automatically installs certificates, configures SSL encryption, and distributes trusted certificates to domain clients. This eliminates the need for manual configuration steps and reduces operational complexity while maintaining security requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides a universal automated solution that handles multiple certificate types (self-signed and third-party signed), multiple installation targets (web server and domain clients), and various configuration requirements through a single integrated process, reducing operational complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If self-signed certificates are used, then setup costs are reduced, but user trust and security perception deteriorate due to untrusted certificate warnings
Solution Approach 1:
The system acts as an intermediary by automatically distributing the self-signed certificate from the web server to domain clients and configuring the clients to trust this certificate. This intermediary distribution mechanism eliminates untrusted certificate warnings for users accessing web sites through domain clients, maintaining both cost-effectiveness and user trust.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring domain clients to trust the self-signed certificate before users access the web site. This preliminary trust configuration prevents untrusted certificate warnings from appearing to users, maintaining security perception while using cost-effective self-signed certificates.
4Loss of time
If automated certificate installation is implemented, then setup time and operational complexity are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the web server and domain clients automatically perform certificate installation, configuration, and trust distribution without manual intervention. This automated self-service approach reduces setup time and operational complexity while managing system complexity through standardized processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying by automatically distributing the certificate from the web server to domain clients through automated file transfer and installation processes. This copying mechanism simplifies the deployment process while managing system complexity through standardized replication procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides systems and methods to automatically install and trust a self-signed (e.g., untrusted) web site certificate on one or more web clients local to the network. In addition, the systems and methods provide for automatic installation of the self-signed certificate and/or a signed (e.g., trusted) certificate on a web server, and automatic configuration to enable an authentication and/or encryption mechanism (e.g., SSL encryption) with at least a portion of the web site. Conventionally, certificate installation, configuration and trusting are achieved manually, which can be time consuming and prone to errors such as trusting a fictitious certificate, for example. The systems and methods of the present invention provide a novel approach to mitigate manual web site certificate installation (e.g., trusted and untrusted) and trusting, web client interruption via untrusted web site warning notifications, and domain web site redirection to a fictitious web site.