Securing PowerScale OneFS SyncIQ
Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:55:56 -0000
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In the data replication world, ensuring your PowerScale clusters' security is paramount. SyncIQ, a powerful data replication tool, requires encryption to prevent unauthorized access.
Concerns about unauthorized replication
A cluster might inadvertently become the target of numerous replication policies, potentially overwhelming its resources. There’s also the risk of an administrator mistakenly specifying the wrong cluster as the replication target.
Best practices for security
To secure your PowerScale cluster, Dell recommends enabling SyncIQ encryption as per Dell Security Advisory DSA-2020-039: Dell EMC Isilon OneFS Security Update for a SyncIQ Vulnerability | Dell US. This feature, introduced in OneFS 8.2, prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and addresses other security concerns.
Encryption in new and upgraded clusters
SyncIQ is disabled by default for new clusters running OneFS 9.1. When SyncIQ is enabled, a global encryption flag requires all SyncIQ policies to be encrypted. This flag is also set for clusters upgraded to OneFS 9.1, unless there’s an existing SyncIQ policy without encryption.
Alternative measures
For clusters running versions earlier than OneFS 8.2, configuring a SyncIQ pre-shared key (PSK) offers protection against unauthorized replication policies.
By following these security measures, administrators can ensure that their PowerScale clusters are safeguarded against unauthorized access and maintain the integrity and confidentiality of their data.
SyncIQ encryption: securing data in transit
Securing information as it moves between systems is paramount in the data-driven world. Dell PowerScale OneFS release 8.2 has brought a game-changing feature to the table: end-to-end encryption for SyncIQ data replication. This ensures that data is not only protected while at rest but also as it traverses the network between clusters.
Why encryption matters
Data breaches can be catastrophic, and because data replication involves moving large volumes of sensitive information, encryption acts as a critical shield. With SyncIQ’s encryption, organizations can enforce a global setting that mandates encryption across all SyncIQ policies, to add an extra layer of security.
Test before you implement
It’s crucial to test SyncIQ encryption in a lab environment before deploying it in production. Although encryption introduces minimal overhead, its impact on workflow can vary based on several factors, such as network bandwidth and cluster resources.
Technical underpinnings
SyncIQ encryption is powered by X.509 certificates, TLS version 1.2, and OpenSSL version 1.0.2o6. These certificates are meticulously managed within the cluster’s certificate stores, ensuring a robust and secure data replication process.
Remember, this is just the beginning of a comprehensive guide about SyncIQ encryption. Stay tuned for more insights about configuration steps and best practices for securing your data with Dell PowerScale’s innovative solutions.
Configuration
Configuring SyncIQ encryption requires a supported OneFS release, certificates, and finally, the OneFS configuration. Before enabling SyncIQ encryption in production, test it in a lab environment that mimics the production setup. Measure the impact on transmission overhead by considering network bandwidth, cluster resources, workflow, and policy configuration.
Here’s a high level summary of the configuration steps:
- Ensure compatibility:
- Ensure that the source and target clusters are running OneFS 8.2 or later.
- Upgrade and commit both clusters to OneFS release 8.2 or later.
- Create X.509 certificates:
- Create X.509 certificates for the source and target clusters using publicly available tools.
- The certificate creation process results in the following components:
- Certificate Authority (CA) certificate
- Source certificate and private key
- Target certificate and private key
Note: Some certificate authorities may not generate the public and private key pairs. In that case, manually generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and obtain signed certificates.
3. Transfer certificates to clusters:
- Transfer the certificates to each cluster.
4. Activate each certificate as follows:
- Add the source cluster certificate under Data Protection > SyncIQ > Certificates.
- Add the target server certificate under Data Protection > SyncIQ > Settings.
- Add the Certificate Authority under Access > TLS Certificates and select Import Authority.
5. Enforce encryption:
- Each cluster stores its certificate and its peer’s certificate.
- The source cluster must store the target cluster’s certificate, and vice versa.
- Storing the peer’s certificate creates a list of approved clusters for data replication.
By following these steps, you can secure your data in transit between PowerScale clusters using SyncIQ encryption. Remember to customize the certificates and settings according to your specific environment and requirements.
For more detailed information about configuring SyncIQ encryption, see SyncIQ encryption | Dell PowerScale SyncIQ: Architecture, Configuration, and Considerations | Dell Technologies Info Hub.
SyncIQ pre-shared key
A SyncIQ pre-shared key (PSK) is configured solely on the target cluster to restrict policies from source clusters without the PSK.
Use Cases: This is recommended for environments without SyncIQ encryption, such as clusters pre-OneFS 8.2 or due to other factors.
SmartLock Compliance: Not supported by SmartLock Compliance mode clusters; upgrading and configuring SyncIQ encryption is advised.
Policy Update: After updating source cluster policies with the PSK, no further configuration is needed. Use the isi sync policies view command to verify.
Remember, configuring the PSK will cause all replicating jobs to the target cluster to fail, so ensure that all SyncIQ jobs are complete or canceled before proceeding.
For more detailed information about configuring a SyncIQ pre-shared key, see SyncIQ pre-shared key | Dell PowerScale SyncIQ: Architecture, Configuration, and Considerations | Dell Technologies Info Hub.
Resources
- SyncIQ encryption | Dell PowerScale SyncIQ: Architecture, Configuration, and Considerations | Dell Technologies Info Hub
- SyncIQ pre-shared key | Dell PowerScale SyncIQ: Architecture, Configuration, and Considerations | Dell Technologies Info Hub
Author: Aqib Kazi, Senior Principal Engineering Technologist