18090601. SECURE DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS simplified abstract (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
Contents
SECURE DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Jeremy W. Powell of Austin TX (US)
Donald Matthews, Jr. of Ft. Collins CO (US)
David Kaplan of Austin TX (US)
SECURE DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18090601 titled 'SECURE DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS
Simplified Explanation:
The patent application describes a processor that manages DMA accesses securely at an IOMMU, ensuring that I/O devices are bound to specific virtual machines and can only access assigned memory regions, preventing unauthorized access to confidential information.
- Key Features and Innovation:
- Processor supports secure management of DMA accesses at an IOMMU
- IOMMU binds I/O devices to specific VMs based on security registration
- Prevents malicious entities from accessing VM data via DMA requests
Potential Applications: This technology can be applied in:
- Data centers
- Cloud computing environments
- Virtualized systems
- Network security applications
Problems Solved:
- Unauthorized access to VM data via DMA requests
- Ensuring secure data transfer between I/O devices and VMs
- Preventing data breaches and leaks
Benefits:
- Enhanced security for virtualized environments
- Protection of confidential information
- Prevention of data breaches
Commercial Applications: This technology can be used in various industries for secure data management, enhancing overall system security and protecting sensitive information.
Prior Art: Readers can explore prior research on IOMMUs, DMA access management, and virtualization security to understand the existing technology landscape.
Frequently Updated Research: Stay updated on advancements in virtualization security, DMA access control, and IOMMU technology to leverage the latest innovations in secure data management.
Questions about Secure DMA Access Management: 1. How does the IOMMU ensure secure binding of I/O devices to specific VMs? 2. What are the potential implications of unauthorized DMA access in virtualized environments?
Original Abstract Submitted
A processor supports managing DMA accesses, in secure fashion, at an IOMMU. The IOMMU is configured to ensure that, for a given DMA request issued by an I/O device and associated with a particular executing VM, the device is bound to the VM according to a specified security registration process, and the request is targeted to a region of memory that has been assigned to the VM. The IOMMU thus prevents a malicious entity from accessing confidential information of a VM via DMA requests.
