📌 Cryptographic Workload Identity

Control Core provides enterprise-grade cryptographic workload identity for internal communications between platform components. This advanced security capability enables zero-trust architecture, mutual authentication, and compliance with rigorous security frameworks.

📌 Overview

Traditional network-based security relies on perimeter defenses and network location. Control Core's cryptographic workload identity goes further by providing:

• Strong cryptographic attestation of every service component
• Short-lived, automatically rotated certificates (X.509-based)
• Mutual TLS (mTLS) for all internal communications
• Hardware and software-backed identity verification

Every Control Core Bouncer and Control Plane component cryptographically proves its identity before participating in the authorization infrastructure.

🔒 Security Benefits

Zero-Trust Architecture

Control Core implements zero-trust principles at the infrastructure level:

Defense in Depth

Cryptographic workload identity adds a critical security layer:

1. Workload Attestation: Components prove their identity through cryptographic challenges
2. Mutual Authentication: Both Control Plane and Bouncers verify each other
3. Encrypted Communications: All internal traffic uses mTLS
4. Identity-Based Policies: Authorization decisions can include workload identity

🔒 Compliance and Regulatory Alignment

Control Core's cryptographic workload identity helps organizations meet requirements from multiple security frameworks and regulations:

SOC 2 Type II

• CC6.1 (Logical Access Controls): Cryptographic identity ensures only authenticated workloads access resources
• CC6.6 (Secure System Boundaries): mTLS encrypts all inter-component communication
• CC6.7 (Data Transmission Security): Short-lived certificates with automatic rotation

ISO 27001

• A.9.4 (System Access Control): Strong authentication for all system components
• A.13.1 (Network Security): Encrypted internal communications
• A.13.2 (Information Transfer): Cryptographic protection of data in transit

PCI DSS 4.0

• Requirement 4 (Protect Cardholder Data): mTLS encryption for internal transmissions
• Requirement 8 (Identify Users): Unique cryptographic identity per component
• Requirement 11 (Test Security): Verifiable attestation mechanisms

HIPAA

• §164.312(a)(1): Access controls via cryptographic workload identity
• §164.312(e)(1): Transmission security through mTLS
• §164.312(c)(1): Integrity controls via signed certificates

NIST 800-53

• IA-3 (Device Identification): Cryptographic device/workload authentication
• IA-5 (Authenticator Management): Automated certificate lifecycle
• SC-8 (Transmission Confidentiality): mTLS for all internal traffic
• SC-23 (Session Authenticity): Cryptographically verified sessions

FedRAMP

• AC-17 (Remote Access): Strong authentication for distributed components
• IA-2 (Identification and Authentication): Multi-factor authentication at workload level
• SC-8 (Transmission Confidentiality): FIPS-validated cryptographic protection

📌 How It Works

Identity Lifecycle

When workload identity is enabled, components prove their identity and communicate over mTLS.

Phases:

┌─────────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐
│  Control Plane  │     │  Identity       │     │    Bouncer      │
│  (Identity      │◄───►│  Attestation    │◄───►│  (Identity      │
│   Authority)    │     │  Protocol       │     │   Verified)     │
└─────────────────┘     └─────────────────┘     └─────────────────┘
        │                       │                       │
        ▼                       ▼                       ▼
   Issue Certificates     Verify Claims           Obtain Identity
   (Short-Lived)          (Cryptographic)         (Auto-Renewed)

1. Bootstrapping: Bouncers authenticate to Control Plane using secure attestation
2. Identity Issuance: Control Plane issues short-lived X.509 certificates
3. Mutual Verification: All subsequent communications verify both parties
4. Automatic Renewal: Certificates rotate automatically before expiration

Certificate Properties

📌 Using Workload Identity in Policies

When cryptographic workload identity is enabled, policies can authorize based on the verified workload identity:

package controlcore.secure_api

import rego.v1

default allow := false

# Require verified workload identity for sensitive endpoints
allow if {
  startswith(input.resource.path, "/api/admin")
  workload_identity_verified
  trusted_bouncer
}

# Check for cryptographic workload identity
workload_identity_verified if {
  input.workload.spiffe_id
  startswith(input.workload.spiffe_id, "spiffe://")
}

# Verify bouncer is from trusted domain
trusted_bouncer if {
  contains(input.workload.spiffe_id, "/bouncer/")
}

Available Identity Attributes

🔒 Security Audit Evidence

Control Core's cryptographic workload identity provides auditors with:

Attestation Records

• Complete audit trail of workload identity issuance
• Timestamp and duration of each certificate
• Attestation method and verification results

Cryptographic Proof

• Non-repudiable evidence of component authentication
• Certificate chain validation logs
• mTLS handshake records

Compliance Reports

• Identity lifecycle events
• Certificate rotation history
• Failed authentication attempts

🏗️ Architecture Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      Control Core Platform                       │
│                                                                  │
│  ┌──────────────────────┐     ┌──────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │    Control Plane     │     │         Bouncer(s)           │  │
│  │                      │     │                              │  │
│  │  ┌────────────────┐  │     │  ┌────────────────────────┐  │  │
│  │  │ Identity       │  │ mTLS│  │ Identity Agent         │  │  │
│  │  │ Authority      │◄─┼─────┼─►│ (Workload Attestation) │  │  │
│  │  └────────────────┘  │     │  └────────────────────────┘  │  │
│  │         │            │     │            │                 │  │
│  │         ▼            │     │            ▼                 │  │
│  │  ┌────────────────┐  │     │  ┌────────────────────────┐  │  │
│  │  │ Policy Admin   │  │     │  │ Policy Enforcement     │  │  │
│  │  │ (Identity     │──┼─────┼──│ (Bouncer)              │  │  │
│  │  └────────────────┘  │     │  └────────────────────────┘  │  │
│  └──────────────────────┘     └──────────────────────────────┘  │
│                                                                  │
│  All internal communications protected by mTLS with verified     │
│  cryptographic workload identity                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

📌 Enabling Cryptographic Workload Identity

To enable this capability in your Control Core deployment, see the Work ID Configuration.

📌 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does this add latency to requests? A: Certificate caching and efficient protocols minimize overhead. Identity verification adds less than 1ms to most requests.

Q: What happens if the Control Plane is unavailable? A: Bouncers cache valid certificates. Authorization continues with cached policies until certificates approach expiration.

Q: Can I use my existing PKI? A: Control Core's identity system can integrate with external certificate authorities. Contact support for custom PKI integration.

Q: Is this required for all deployments? A: No. Cryptographic workload identity is an optional, advanced feature. Control Core works without it using traditional TLS.

🛠️ Troubleshooting

For more, see the Troubleshooting Guide and Work ID Configuration.

📌 Related Documentation

• Security Best Practices - Overview of security features
• Work ID Configuration - Technical setup guide
• Rego Guidelines - Policy authoring with identity attributes
• Enterprise Architecture - Large-scale deployment patterns