Techniques for managing credentials in a distributed computing environment

US9455975B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Marc John Brooker · Seattle, US
• Mark Joseph Cavage · Seattle, US
• David Everard Brown · Cape Town, ZA
• Kevin Ross O'Neill · Seattle, US
• Eric Jason Brandwine · Haymarket, US
• Christopher Richard Jacques de Kadt · Cape Town, ZA

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 11, 2014
• Grant date: Sep 27, 2016
• Expiry date: Mar 11, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L9/3247
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing credentials distribute the credentials to subsets of a set of collectively managed computing resources. The collectively managed computing resources may include one or more virtual machine instances. The credentials distributed to the computing resources may be used by the computing resources to perform one or more actions. Actions may include performing one or more functions in connection with configuration, management, and/or operation of the one or more resources, and/or access of other computing resources. The ability to use credentials may be changed based at least in part on the occurrence of one or more events.