IP Library Granted Patent US 11,698,981
Granted Patent B2
US 11,698,981 · App. 16/895,503 · Granted Jul 11, 2023

Systems and methods for client-side and field-level encryption with dynamic schema databases

Inventors: Kenneth White (New York, NY); Mark Benvenuto (New York, NY); Kevin Albertson (New York, NY); David Lenox Storch (Brooklyn, NY); Eliot Horowitz (New York, NY)
Assignee: MongoDB, Inc.
G06F21/602G06F16/213H04L9/14
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,698,981
App. No.
16/895,503
Granted
Jul 11, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A database system comprising a database having a dynamic schema and comprising a plurality of data storage nodes; and at least one processor configured to, using an encryption process: manage access to plaintext data stored in the plurality of data storage nodes by users employing at least one client-controlled resource in a client access layer; restrict access to the plaintext data by other users, wherein the other users include users with system administration privileges for the database and administrators of processing resources hosting the database; and manage access to encrypted copies of the plaintext data by the users with system administration privileges for the database such that the system administration privileges do not enable access to plaintext versions of the encrypted copies. A method for managing data security for a database. A database system with a dynamic schema architecture, a client access layer, and an operational database layer.

Claims (42)

1. A database system comprising:

a database having a dynamic schema and comprising a plurality of data storage nodes, wherein the database is configured to store at least one document; and

at least one processor configured to:

using an encryption process at a field-level in the database having the dynamic schema, enable specification of encryption in a client access layer on a minimum of at least one data field within the at least one document; and

manage access to the at least one data field within the at least one document such that:

system administration privileges for the database having the dynamic schema do not enable access to a plaintext version of the at least one data field within the at least one document, and

at least one data key enables access to the plaintext version of the at least one data field within the at least one document.

2. The database system of claim 1 , wherein at least one client-controlled resource manages the at least one data key without which the at least one data field cannot be decrypted.

3. The database system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to, using the encryption process, restrict access to the at least one data key to users having permission within the client access layer.

4. The database system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one document is associated with at least the at least one data key.

5. The database system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a request for the at least one data key; and

process the request.

6. The database system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to use the encryption process under a zero trust security model.

7. The database system of claim 1 , wherein the database follows an eventual consistency model.

8. The database system of claim 1 , wherein the encryption process is independent of database access policy.

9. The database system of claim 1 , wherein root privileges for the database do not enable access to the plaintext version of the at least one data field within the at least one document.

10. The database system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

manage access, by users employing at least one client-controlled resource in the client access layer, to plaintext data stored in the plurality of data storage nodes; and

restrict access to the plaintext data by other users, wherein the other users include users with system administration privileges for the database and administrators of processing resources hosting the database.

11. A method for managing data security for a database having a dynamic schema and comprising a plurality of data storage nodes, wherein the database is configured to store at least one document, the method comprising:

using an encryption process at a field-level in the database having the dynamic schema, enabling specification of encryption in a client access layer on a minimum of at least one data field within the at least one document; and

managing access to the at least one data field within the at least one document such that:

system administration privileges for the database having the dynamic schema do not enable access to a plaintext version of the at least one data field within the at least one document, and

at least one data key enables access to the plaintext version of the at least one data field within the at least one document.

12. At least one computer-readable storage medium having instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for managing data security for a database having a dynamic schema and comprising a plurality of data storage nodes, wherein the database is configured to store at least one document, the method comprising:

using an encryption process at a field-level in the database having the dynamic schema, enabling specification of encryption in a client access layer on a minimum of at least one data field within the at least one document; and

managing access to the at least one data field within the at least one document such that:

system administration privileges for the database having the dynamic schema do not enable access to a plaintext version of the at least one data field within the at least one document, and

at least one data key enables access to the plaintext version of the at least one data field within the at least one document.

13. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein at least one client-controlled resource manages the at least one data key without which the at least one data field cannot be decrypted.

14. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises, using the encryption process, restricting access to the at least one data key to users having permission within the client access layer.

15. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the at least one document is associated with at least the at least one data key.

16. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a request for the at least one data key; and

processing the request.

17. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises using the encryption process under a zero trust security model.

18. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the encryption process is independent of database access policy.

19. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein root privileges for the database do not enable access to the plaintext version of the at least one data field within the at least one document.

20. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , the method further comprising:

managing access, by users employing at least one client-controlled resource in the client access layer, to plaintext data stored in the plurality of data storage nodes; and

restricting access to the plaintext data by other users, wherein the other users include users with system administration privileges for the database and administrators of processing resources hosting the database.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2021
From: WHITE, KENNETH; BENVENUTO, MARK; ALBERTSON, KEVIN; STORCH, DAVID LENOX
To: MONGODB, INC.
Reel/Frame 054871/0986 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2020
From: HOROWITZ, ELIOT
To: MONGODB, INC.
Reel/Frame 054756/0081 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62861978 · Jun 14, 2019
Related Publication 20200394317A1 · Dec 17, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,197,597