Platform
Security
How security is enforced end-to-end for device identity, access control, and secure communication between UI, backend, and edge.
Design intent
Use this lens when implementing Security across a fleet: define clear boundaries, make change snapshot-based, and keep operational signals observable.
- Deployment and promotion are the highest-risk privileged actions
- Device identity is a lifecycle (provision/rotate/revoke)
- Auditing and least privilege keep operations safe at scale
What it is
A secure control plane requires authenticated devices, encrypted channels, and strict authorization for changes and operations.
Design constraints
- Deployment and promotion are the highest-risk privileged actions
- Device identity is a lifecycle (provision/rotate/revoke)
- Auditing and least privilege keep operations safe at scale
Architecture at a glance
- Identity: users + devices; Authorization: actions scoped to sites/devices/projects
- Secure channels for control plane and telemetry paths
- Audit trails tie changes to snapshots and deployment actions
- This is a UI + backend + edge concern: security must be operational, not theoretical
Typical workflow
- Define roles and scopes (site/device/project) before scaling users
- Enable least-privilege paths for deployments and configuration edits
- Rotate credentials and validate secure connectivity at the edge
- Audit: verify snapshot + deployment actions are traceable
System boundary
Treat Security as a repeatable interface between engineering intent (design) and runtime reality (deployments + signals). Keep site-specific details configurable so the same design scales across sites.
Example artifact
Authorization policy (conceptual)
role: commissioning-engineer
allowed:
- action: deploy_snapshot
scope: site:*
- action: edit_io_mapping
scope: site:*
denied:
- action: manage_identities
scope: *Why it matters
- Prevents unauthorized deployments and configuration changes
- Supports compliance needs with auditability
- Protects telemetry and operational data in transit
Engineering outcomes
- Deployment and promotion are the highest-risk privileged actions
- Device identity is a lifecycle (provision/rotate/revoke)
- Auditing and least privilege keep operations safe at scale
Quick acceptance checks
- Verify device identity lifecycle: provisioning, rotation, revocation
- Enforce least-privilege permissions for deploy vs design vs ops actions
Common failure modes
- Over-broad permissions causing unsafe changes under pressure
- Device identity drift: credentials copied or reused across devices
- TLS/cert lifecycle issues leading to silent disconnections
- Audit gaps: changes not tied to snapshots or missing change notes
Acceptance tests
- Least privilege: validate that only authorized roles can deploy/change config
- Edge trust: validate device identity and secure channel establishment
- Audit trail: confirm actions are logged with snapshot/deployment IDs
- Verify the deployed snapshot/version matches intent (no drift)
- Run a canary validation: behavior, health, and telemetry align with expectations
- Verify rollback works and restores known-good behavior
In the platform
- Identity and authorization across users and devices
- Secure connectivity between edge and cloud
- Operational audit trails for critical actions
Implementation checklist
- Verify device identity lifecycle: provisioning, rotation, revocation
- Enforce least-privilege permissions for deploy vs design vs ops actions
- Audit all critical actions (deploy, promote, policy changes)
- Validate secure transport for edge ↔ cloud and UI ↔ backend
Rollout guidance
- Start with a canary site that matches real conditions
- Use health + telemetry gates; stop expansion on regressions
- Keep rollback to a known-good snapshot fast and rehearsed
Acceptance tests
- Least privilege: validate that only authorized roles can deploy/change config
- Edge trust: validate device identity and secure channel establishment
- Audit trail: confirm actions are logged with snapshot/deployment IDs
- Verify the deployed snapshot/version matches intent (no drift)
- Run a canary validation: behavior, health, and telemetry align with expectations
- Verify rollback works and restores known-good behavior
Deep dive
Practical next steps
How teams typically apply this in real deployments.
Key takeaways
- Deployment and promotion are the highest-risk privileged actions
- Device identity is a lifecycle (provision/rotate/revoke)
- Auditing and least privilege keep operations safe at scale
Checklist
- Verify device identity lifecycle: provisioning, rotation, revocation
- Enforce least-privilege permissions for deploy vs design vs ops actions
- Audit all critical actions (deploy, promote, policy changes)
- Validate secure transport for edge ↔ cloud and UI ↔ backend
Deep dive
Common questions
Quick answers that help during commissioning and operations.
What are the highest-risk actions to guard?
Snapshot promotion and deployments. Treat them as privileged operations with strong auth, auditing, and optional approval gates.
What breaks security most often in practice?
Stale credentials/certs and over-broad permissions. Manage device identity as a lifecycle and keep roles scoped.
How do we handle break-glass access?
Allow it, but make it explicit: short-lived elevation, stronger logging, and post-incident review.