Embedded Platform Patterns for Distributed and Secure Logging

Fikret Basic*, Christian Steger, Robert Kofler

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperpeer-review

Abstract

With the advent of modern embedded systems, logging as a process is becoming more and more prevalent for diagnostic and analytic services. Traditionally, storage and managing of the logged data are generally kept as a part of one entity together with the main logic components. In systems that implement network connections, this activity is usually handled over a remote device. However, enabling remote connection is still considered a limiting factor for many embedded devices due to the demanding production cost. A significant challenge is presented to vendors who need to decide how the data will be extracted and handled for an embedded platform during the design concept phase. It is generally desirable that logging memory modules are able to be addressed as separate units. These devices need to be appropriately secured and verifiable on a different system since data compromise can lead to enormous privacy and even financial losses. In this paper, we present two patterns. First, a pattern that allows flexible logging operation design in terms of module and interface responsibility separation. Second, a pattern for the design of secure logging processes during the utilization of constrained embedded devices. The introduced patterns fulfil the following conditions: (i) flexibility – design is independent of the chip vendors making the logging memory modules easily replaceable, (ii) self-sufficiency – every logging controller is maintained as a separate entity in a decentralized topology, (iii) security – through providing authenticity, confidentiality, and integrity by means of using a dedicated security module.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the European Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs, EuroPLoP 2021
Place of PublicationGraz, Austria
PublisherAssociation of Computing Machinery
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781450389976
ISBN (Print)978-1-4503-8997-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Keywords

  • Logging
  • Design pattern
  • System design
  • Embedded systems
  • Cyber security
  • system design
  • logging
  • cybersecurity
  • embedded
  • design pattern

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Software
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Computer Networks and Communications

Fields of Expertise

  • Information, Communication & Computing

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