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Advanced Key Management: Admin and Read-Only Access with Timelock

Overview

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The Advanced Key Management: Admin and Read-Only Access with Timelock feature provides UnoLock CybVault users with granular control over access to their safes by enabling admin and read-only key roles, combined with a timelock mechanism to restrict access until a specified time. This feature allows users to delegate access securely, assigning full administrative rights to trusted individuals or limited read-only permissions to others, while ensuring that sensitive data, such as cryptocurrency keys, confidential documents, or personal records, remains protected. The timelock adds an additional layer of security by delaying access, making it ideal for scenarios requiring controlled or scheduled data release. This feature reinforces UnoLock’s zero-knowledge architecture, ensuring privacy and security throughout the access management process.

How It Works

  • Admin Key Role: Users can designate admin keys with full access to manage the safe, including adding/removing keys, modifying data, and setting timelocks, authenticated via WebAuthn for security.
  • Read-Only Key Role: Read-only keys allow limited access to view safe contents without modification rights, ideal for sharing data with auditors or collaborators while protecting against unauthorized changes.
  • Timelock Mechanism: Users can set a timelock on specific keys or safes, delaying access until a predefined time (e.g., a future date or event), enforced client-side and synchronized with server-side checks.
  • Client-Side Encryption: All keys and data are encrypted with AES-256 GCM in the client-side keyring, ensuring that UnoLock’s servers cannot access or manipulate access roles or timelock settings.

Security Implications

  • Granular Access Control: Admin and read-only roles allow precise delegation of access, reducing the risk of unauthorized modifications or data leaks.
  • Time-Based Security: The timelock ensures that data remains inaccessible until the specified time, protecting against premature access or coercion.
  • Zero-Knowledge Privacy: Client-side encryption and key management ensure that access roles and timelock settings are private, with no server-side visibility, preserving UnoLock’s zero-knowledge model.

Use Cases

  • Estate Planning: Users can set timelocks on admin keys for heirs, ensuring access to cryptocurrency keys or important documents only after a specified date, such as after their passing.
  • Corporate Governance: Businesses can assign read-only keys to auditors for financial records while reserving admin keys for executives, with timelocks to control access during sensitive periods.
  • Collaborative Projects: Teams can share read-only access to project data with external partners, using timelocks to limit access to specific phases of a project.

Why It Matters

Managing access to sensitive data requires balancing security, flexibility, and control, especially in scenarios involving multiple stakeholders or delayed access. The admin and read-only access with timelock feature provides a robust solution, enabling users to delegate permissions securely while enforcing time-based restrictions. This feature enhances UnoLock’s zero-knowledge architecture, offering unparalleled control over data access and making it ideal for both personal and professional use cases where privacy and timing are critical.

FAQs

What is the difference between admin and read-only keys?

Admin keys have full control to manage and modify the safe, while read-only keys can only view contents, ensuring limited access for specific users.

How does the timelock feature work?

The timelock restricts access to a safe or key until a specified time, enforced client-side with server-side synchronization, preventing premature access.

Can UnoLock override a timelock or access my keys?

No, UnoLock’s zero-knowledge model ensures that timelocks and keys are managed client-side, with no server-side access or control.

Compliance & Privacy Regulations

  • GDPR & HIPAA Compliance: Admin and read-only access with timelock supports compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations by ensuring secure, controlled access to sensitive data without server-side exposure.

Integration with Other Features

  • Robust Key Management with Multi-Key Registration and WebAuthn: Builds on multi-key registration by adding role-based access and timelock capabilities, enhancing key management flexibility.
  • Client-Side Encryption Using AES-256 GCM: Ensures that all keys and access roles are encrypted locally, maintaining zero-knowledge privacy across admin and read-only operations.