System and method for providing data security in a hosted service system

• US 10,366,248 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nagesha Rao, Pallavi T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schmidt, Kari L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jenise E
• Application Number:
  US15/206,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20160321465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 380277
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/335 for accessing specific resources, e.g. using Kerberos tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/08 Key distribution or management, e.g. generation, sharing or updating, of cryptographic keys or passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting key management in a packet data network H04L63/06

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for protecting sensitive data in a hosted service system. The system includes a host system and the host system includes a key management system (KMS) and a metadata service system (MSS). The KMS and the MSS are communicatively coupled to each other. The system further includes a database management system (DBMS) having a database, a query pre-parser, and a results handler. The query pre-parser and the results handler are communicatively coupled to the KMS and the MSS, and the system also includes a processing application adapted to process at least some data received from a tenant system.

Claims

1. A hosted service system for protecting sensitive data, the system comprising:

a host computer system having a hardware processor, wherein the host system includes;

a federation server; and

a database management system (DBMS), the DBMS having;

a database;

a query pre-parser, wherein the query pre-parser is configured to receive, via the federation server, communications from a key management system (KMS) and a metadata service system (MSS) associated with a tenant system where the host system is configured to process at least some of the data of the tenant system, and wherein the query pre-parser is configured to;

receive a query;

receive, from the MSS, a determination if the query received by the query pre-parser has a part of the query associated with the sensitive data;

if the part of the query is associated with the sensitive data;

 

receive, from the KMS, at least one encryption key corresponding to the part of the query;

 

decrypt the part of the query using the at least one encryption key corresponding to the part of the query; and

 

generate a modified query, wherein the modified query includes the decrypted part of the query;

generate a database query (DB query) using at least one of the query or the modified query; and

transmit the DB query to the database; and

a results handler, wherein the query pre-parser and the results handler are both communicatively coupled to the federation server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the KMS is configured to function as a repository of encryption keys, the encryption keys being used to encrypt sensitive data of the tenant system, wherein the sensitive data is at least a part of the data of the tenant system;

the MSS is configured to maintain metadata of the sensitive data, wherein the metadata includes encryption information; and

the results handler is communicatively coupled to the MSS and the KMS via the federation server, and wherein the results handler is configured to;

receive a database query result (DB query result) from the database;

determine if a part of the DB query result is associated with the sensitive data, wherein the determination is performed by the MSS;

if the part of the DB query result is associated with the sensitive data;

receive, from the KMS, at least one encryption key corresponding to the part of the DB query result;

encrypt the part of the DB query result using the at least one encryption key corresponding to the part of the DB query result; and

generate a modified DB query result, wherein the modified query result includes the encrypted part of the DB query result;

generate a query result using at least one of the DB query result or the modified DB query result; and

transmit the query result.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a user registry and access control management element (UR-ACM), wherein the UR-ACM being communicatively coupled to the federation server, and wherein the UR-ACM is configured to authenticate a user of a client associated with the tenant system.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a processing application communicatively coupled to the federation server and the UR-ACM, wherein the host system includes the processing application, and wherein the processing application includes;

a response builder, wherein the response builder is configured to;

process a query result from the results handler; and

route the processed query result as a host response to the tenant system; and

a request builder, wherein the request builder is configured to;

process a tenant request from the tenant system; and

route the processed tenant request as a query to the query pre-parser.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a proxy, wherein the proxy is communicatively coupled to the KMS, the MSS, the federation server and the UR-ACM, and wherein the tenant system includes the proxy, and further wherein the proxy is configured to;

receive a client request from the client;

determine if a part of the client request is associated with the sensitive data, wherein the determination is performed by the MSS;

if the part of the client request is associated with the sensitive data;

receive, from the KMS, at least one encryption key corresponding to the part of the client request;

encrypt the part of the client request using the at least one encryption key corresponding to the part of the client request; and

generate a modified client request, wherein the modified client request includes the encrypted part of the client request;

generate a tenant request by manipulating at least one of the client request or the modified client request, wherein the manipulation is performed using a data exchange format;

transmit the tenant request;

receive a host response;

determine if a part of the host response is associated with the sensitive data, wherein the determination is performed by the MSS;

if the part of the host response is associated with the sensitive data;

receive, from the KMS, at least one encryption key corresponding to the part of the host response;

decrypt the part of the host response using the at least one encryption key corresponding to the part of the host response; and

generate a modified host response, wherein the modified host response includes the decrypted part of the host response;

generate a client response by manipulating at least one of the host response or the modified host response, wherein the manipulation is performed using a data exchange format; and

transmit the client response to the client.