cpSecY

cpSecY is a security protocol and framework designed to provide confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity across distributed systems. It aims to unify transport-layer security with data-at-rest protections into a single coherent model, suitable for client-server, microservices, and IoT environments. The design emphasizes modularity, formal verifiability, and interoperability with existing cryptographic standards.

The cpSecY reference architecture comprises a Core Protocol, a Key Management Service, a Policy and Access Layer, Crypto Service Modules, and Transport Adapters. The Core Protocol manages handshakes and key derivation; the Key Management Service handles key generation, storage, rotation, and revocation; the Policy Layer enforces access control and usage rules; Crypto Service Modules perform algorithms for encryption, signing, and integrity checks; Transport Adapters enable operation over TLS, DTLS, MQTT, and REST.

Security properties include mutual authentication, forward secrecy, data integrity, and optional post-quantum algorithm support. It supports session resumption, replay protection, and integrity-protected metadata. The framework enables encryption in transit and, via a data-at-rest module, encryption of stored payloads using envelope schemes that bind data to policy context.

Protocol flow typically involves mutual credential verification, negotiation of cryptographic suites, ephemeral key exchange, and establishment of a shared session key. Subsequent messages are protected with authenticated encryption, and data-at-rest bindings can enforce lifecycle and access controls consistent with the policy layer.

Adoption and status: cpSecY is described in academic work and has inspired industry prototypes but has not become a widely standardized or deployed protocol. It serves as a framework for evaluating secure design choices and guiding deployments, while highlighting potential complexity and performance considerations.