Secure communications between peers using a verified virtual trusted platform module

Abstract

The embodiments herein are directed to a technique for providing secure communication between nodes of a network environment or within a node of the network using a verified virtual trusted platform module (TPM) of each node. The verified virtual TPM illustratively emulates a hardware TPM device to provide software key management of cryptographic keys used to provide the secure communication over a computer network of the network environment. Illustratively, the verified virtual TPM is configured to enforce a security policy of a trusted code base (TCB) that includes the virtual TPM. Trustedness denotes a predetermined level of confidence that the security property is demonstrated by the verified virtual TPM. The predetermined level of confidence is based on an assurance (i.e., grounds) that the verified virtual TPM demonstrates the security property. Trustedness of the virtual TPM may be verified by subjecting the virtual TPM to enhanced verification analysis configured to ensure conformance to an operational model with an appropriate level of confidence over an appropriate range of activity. The operational model may then be configured to analyze conformance to the security property. A combination of conformance by the virtual TPM to the operational model and to the security property provides assurance (i.e., grounds) for the level of confidence and, thus, verifies trustedness.