Emc Corporation

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

Emc IP Holding Company LLC

Gareth Richards

Yedidya Dotan

Lawrence N Friedman

Daniel Vernon Bailey

Riaz Zolfonoon

William Duane

Ari Juels

John Michael Czerkowicz

Robert S Philpott

Glenn S Watkins

Christopher W Duane

Kenneth D Ray

Peter Frank Corbett

John Gordon Brainard

Ludovic Emmanuel Paul Noel Jacquin

Thomas M Laffey

Guoying Luo

Michael Healey

Christopher Anthony Grant Hillier

Alexander Volanis

Nirav Mehta

Bradford B Glade

Gregory Dicovitsky

Michael William Francis Healey, Jr

A process includes communicating by a first device, with a second device. The communicating includes the first device receiving data from the second device that represents a certificate. The certificate binds a hierarchy of logical identifiers to a cryptographic key. The hierarchy of identifiers includes a first logical identifier that corresponds to a group membership. The process includes authenticating, by the first device, the second device based on the certificate. The process includes allowing, by the first device, a secure connection to be set up between the first device and the second device based on whether the first logical identifier represents that the second device is a member of a first group of devices of which the first device is a member.

Authorizing secure connections responsive to certificates bound to logical identifiers

Cluster groups define a relationship between clusters in an HCI system. New cluster groups may be created, and a cluster may be added or removed from an existing cluster group. A method and system are disclosed to support a dynamically scaled hyperconverged system with non-overlapping and overlapping cluster groups. A dynamically scalable hyperconverged system may allow for piece-wise upgrades while supporting inter-operable and non-interoperable components having a secure intercommunication capability. A system is disclosed for scaling a single managed hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) where all components are allowed to run a compatible communication protocol (e.g., interoperable communication protocol) but are not required to operate an interoperable software version. Further, methods are disclosed to a) illustrate consolidation of backups for a cluster of HCI nodes running interoperable and non-interoperable data exchange protocols; and b) dynamically organize groups of clusters to enforce interoperability requirements and simplify network configuration among these clusters.

Dynamically scaled hyperconverged system establishing minimum supported interoperable communication protocol between clusters in a cluster group

Example implementations relate to encrypting data objects. In an example, data objects of a file system instance contained by a security domain are encrypted using a Data Encryption Key that is specific to the security domain and is wrapped by a Key Encryption Key shared exclusively within a cluster. A backup of the file system instance is created on a backup node. The backup includes at least some of the encrypted data objects. The DEK is sent to the backup node. The backup node cannot decrypt the backup unless the backup node is a member of the cluster and has access to the KEK to unwrap the DEK.

Backups of file system instances of encrypted data objects

A method for use in managing a secure object store in a computing system includes: securing the secure object store including creating, maintaining, and using a hierarchical key system and accessing an encrypted data object using the Node Key Encryption Key and a selected one of the Data Encryption Keys. The securing includes: generating a Node Key Encryption Key; generating a plurality of Data Encryption Keys that are encrypted using the Node Key Encryption Key; and encrypting a plurality of data objects using the Data Encryption Keys, each data object being encrypted by a respective Data Encryption Key.

Providing a secure object store using a hierarchical key system

Example implementations relate to encrypting data objects. In an example, data objects of a file system instance contained by a security domain are encrypted using a Data Encryption Key that is specific to the security domain and is wrapped by a Key Encryption Key shared exclusively within a cluster. A root object of the file system instance is encrypted using a Metadata Encryption Key. A backup of the file system instance is created on a backup node. The Data Encryption Key and the Metadata Encryption Key are sent to the backup node.

Backups of file system instances with root object encrypted by metadata encryption key

A method and system for use in distributing token records is disclosed. At least one token record comprises a unique seed associated with a one-time password (OTP) token. An encryption key and a corresponding decryption key are generated for assisting selective encryption and decryption of a token record associated with a OTP token. The encryption key and the decryption key being unique to an end user of the token record. The token record is encrypted with the assistance of the encryption key. One of the decryption key and the encrypted token record is provided to the end user of the token record. The other of the decryption key and the encrypted token record is provided to the end user in response to secure receipt of the one of the decryption key and the encrypted token record by the end user. The encrypted token record can be decrypted with the assistance of the decryption key.

Distributing token records

Improved techniques involve selecting a set of authentication factors from among multiple factors based on a current situation and information about how well the multiple authentication factors have worked in similar situations in the past. Along these lines, when an authentication system performs an authentication operation on a requesting party, the authentication system first assesses a situational environment. Based on the assessment of the situational environment, the authentication system decides that it is necessary to re-authenticate the requesting party. In some arrangements, the authentication system may determine which set of factors has the highest likelihood of successfully verifying the user's identity when compared with other authentication factors. The authentication system then carries out an authentication operation on the selected set of factors and bases a successful authentication result on whether the selected set of factors can be verified.

Situationally aware authentication

A technique provides access control on a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone, a tablet, etc.). The technique involves displaying an image on a touch screen of the mobile device. The technique further involves, while the image is displayed on the touch screen, receiving user input from a user. The user input includes user gestures applied to the touch screen over the displayed image. The technique further involves performing an access control operation which provides an access control result based on the user input, the access control result (i) providing access to a set of protected resources when the user input matches expected input and (ii) denying access to the set of protected resources when the user input does not match the expected input.

Access control by a mobile device using an image

An authentication system comprises a plurality of servers storing respective shares of a private key, and a controller associated with the servers. The authentication system is configured to receive a message comprising a password encrypted using a public key corresponding to the private key. The controller directs performance of distributed password-based authentication in the authentication system based at least in part on the encrypted password utilizing the shares of the private key stored in the respective servers. The message is formatted in a manner consistent with an authentication protocol that normally utilizes public key signatures as a mechanism for authentication but is modified to support password-based authentication. For example, the message may be formatted in a manner consistent with a request message of a Kerberos PKINIT protocol extension.

Distributed password-based authentication in a public key cryptography authentication system

Method and system for distributing token records in market environment is disclosed. At least one token record comprising a unique seed associated with a OTP token. Encryption key and decryption key are generated for assisting selective encryption and decryption of token record associated with OTP token. The token record is encrypted with the assistance of encryption key. One of encrypted token record and decryption key is provided into market environment. A device comprising an identifier for facilitating identification of token record associated with OTP token is provided into market environment together with the one of encrypted token record and decryption key. The identifier concealed by tamper-evident removable material such that any effort to reveal identifier will be readily apparent. The other of the encrypted token record and decryption key is provided to an entity in response to entity providing identifier.

Distributing token records in a market environment

A technique provisions a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, etc.) with a security application on the fly. The technique involves providing, by processing circuitry of the mobile device, an initial access request to an enterprise gateway which is operated by an enterprise. The technique further involves receiving, by the processing circuitry, an enterprise response message from the enterprise gateway in response to the initial access request. The enterprise response message denies access to a set of enterprise resources of the enterprise. The technique further involves automatically prompting, by the processing circuitry, the mobile device to install a mobile security application from an application server in response to the enterprise response message denying access to the set of enterprise resources of the enterprise.

Provisioning a mobile device with a security application on the fly

A technique provides user authentication using a smart device (e.g., a smart phone, a tablet, etc.). The technique involves displaying, by processing circuitry of a smart device, a password prompt on a touch screen of the smart device. The password prompt includes a motion video of touch screen gestures to prompt a user of the smart device to enter a gesture password. The technique further involves receiving, by the processing circuitry, a trial gesture password entered by the user via the touch screen. The trial gesture password includes a user-entered sequence of touch screen gestures. The technique further involves performing, by the processing circuitry, multiple gesture password confirmation operations to verify that the user is able to re-enter the trial gesture password via the touch screen over time to authenticate the user to the smart device.

Authentication using gesture passwords

A technique provides access control. The technique involves prompting a user to enter color-shape pairings, and receiving multiple color-shape pairings from the user. Each color-shape pairing includes (i) a color selection from multiple selectable colors and (ii) a shape selection from multiple selectable shapes. The technique further involves generating an access control result based on the received multiple color-shape pairings, the access control result controlling access to a set of protected resources. For example, color segments can be displayed on a touch screen in the form of a color wheel, and multiple shapes can be rendered within each color segment. Alternatively, (i) a color palette including the multiple selectable colors and (ii) a shape menu including the multiple selectable shapes can be rendered on the touch screen to prompt the user to provide drag and drop gestures over the touch screen. Other configurations are suitable for use as well.

Authentication using color-shape pairings

A technique performs authentication before delivering a token to a client device. The technique involves receiving a first message from a first application on the client device, the first message including a token request and a first set of authentication factors. The technique further involves receiving a second message from a second application on the client device, the second message including an authentication request and a second set of authentication factors. The technique further involves generating a result message which (i) provides access to a token for use by the client device when the first set of authentication factors is consistent with the second set of authentication factors, and (ii) rejects the token request when the first set of authentication factors is inconsistent with the second set of authentication factors. The client device may be a mobile device, and the first and second messages may be received via wireless communications.

Distributing access and identification tokens in a mobile environment

A password hardening system is arranged between one or more clients and a domain controller or other authentication entity. The password hardening system comprises a plurality of servers configured to store in a distributed manner respective shares of at least one of a hardened surrogate password and a corresponding user password. The password hardening system is configured to intercept a first set of one or more communications based at least in part on the user password and directed to an authentication entity external to the password hardening system, and to provide to the authentication entity in place of at least a portion of the intercepted first set of one or more communications a second set of one or more communications based at least in part on the hardened surrogate password. The password hardening system may be configured to serve as a proxy between an authenticating client and the authentication entity.

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Woodstock, United Kingdom

Gareth Richards