System Security and Authentication

The system uses a number of mechanisms to ensure the security and authentication of internal and external requests.

API gateway service

The Cray API gateway service provides a common access gateway for all of the systems management REST APIs. Authentication is provided by an Identity and Access Management (IAM) service that integrates with Istio.

Keycloak

Keycloak is an open source Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution. It provides authentication and authorization services that are used to secure access to services on the system.

To learn more about Keycloak, see:

JSON Web Tokens (JWTs)

The approach for system management authentication and authorization is to leverage the OpenID Connect standard, as much as practical. OpenID Connect consists of a specific application of the OAuth v2.0 standard, which leverages the use of JWTs.

Security infrastructure

Security Infrastructure

Istio ingress gateway

All connections through the Istio ingress gateway require authentication with a valid JWT from Keycloak, except for the following endpoints accessed via the shasta external hostname:

  • /keycloak
  • /apis/tokens
  • /vcs
  • /spire-jwks-
  • /spire-bundle
  • /meta-data
  • /user-data
  • /phone-home
  • /repository
  • /v2
  • /service/rest
  • /capsules/