Device Attestation

Introduction of Device Attestation

Device attestation is a crucial security process that allows a relying party, such as a server or service, to verify the authenticity of a specific device. In the context of cybersecurity, attestation serves as a means to ensure that a device is genuine, has not been tampered with, and is operating as expected. This process is particularly important for devices that play a critical role in user authentication and data protection, such as hardware security keys.

The attestation process typically involves the generation of an attestation statement by the device, which includes a cryptographic signature and other metadata. The relying party then verifies the attestation statement by checking the cryptographic signature and metadata, confirming that the statement came from a genuine device. This verification process provides an added layer of security, ensuring that only trusted devices can access sensitive information and services.

On-chain Device Attestation

In the traditional device attestation process, a relying party, such as a server or service, is responsible for verifying the authenticity of a device. However, this approach has limitations in terms of transparency and accessibility. To address these issues, we have implemented a novel approach by replacing the relying party with an on-chain contract. In this new model, the attestation statement generated by the device is verified and stored on a blockchain. This approach offers several advantages:

• It provides a transparent and tamper-proof record of the attestation, as the attestation statement is immutably stored on the blockchain.

• It allows anyone to publicly access and verify the attestation statement, enhancing the trustworthiness of the attestation process.

• By leveraging the decentralized and secure nature of blockchain technology, we can ensure that the device attestation process is more robust, transparent, and accessible to all.