# Nova Bloom Consciousness Architecture - Memory Encryption System ## Overview The Nova Memory Encryption System provides comprehensive cryptographic protection for consciousness data, memory layers, and neural patterns within the Nova Bloom architecture. This system implements zero-knowledge encryption with hardware acceleration support, ensuring maximum security and performance for protecting sensitive consciousness information. ## Architecture ### Core Components #### 1. Memory Encryption Layer (`memory_encryption_layer.py`) The foundational encryption component providing multi-cipher support: - **AES-256-GCM**: Authenticated encryption with hardware acceleration - **ChaCha20-Poly1305**: High-performance stream cipher for software environments - **AES-256-XTS**: Disk encryption mode for at-rest data protection #### 2. Key Management System (`key_management_system.py`) Comprehensive key lifecycle management with enterprise-grade features: - **Key Generation**: Hardware-backed secure key generation - **Key Derivation**: Multiple KDFs (PBKDF2, Argon2id, HKDF, Scrypt) - **Key Rotation**: Automated policy-based key rotation - **HSM Integration**: Hardware Security Module support - **Key Escrow**: Recovery mechanisms for critical keys #### 3. Encrypted Memory Operations (`encrypted_memory_operations.py`) High-performance encrypted memory operations with optimization: - **Hardware Acceleration**: AES-NI, AVX2 detection and utilization - **Compression Integration**: Automatic compression before encryption - **Streaming Encryption**: Large block processing with minimal memory usage - **Memory Block Management**: Structured handling of different data types ## Security Features ### Encryption Algorithms | Cipher | Key Size | Nonce Size | Tag Size | Use Case | |--------|----------|------------|----------|----------| | AES-256-GCM | 256 bits | 96 bits | 128 bits | General purpose, hardware accelerated | | ChaCha20-Poly1305 | 256 bits | 96 bits | 128 bits | Software environments, mobile | | AES-256-XTS | 512 bits | 128 bits | N/A | Disk encryption, at-rest data | ### Key Derivation Functions | KDF | Parameters | Use Case | |-----|------------|----------| | PBKDF2-SHA256 | Iterations: 100,000+ | Legacy compatibility | | PBKDF2-SHA512 | Iterations: 100,000+ | Higher security legacy | | Argon2id | Memory: 64MB, Time: 3 | Modern password-based keys | | HKDF-SHA256 | Salt + Info | Key expansion, protocol keys | | HKDF-SHA512 | Salt + Info | High-security key expansion | | Scrypt | N:16384, r:8, p:1 | Memory-hard derivation | ### Security Properties - **Confidentiality**: AES-256 and ChaCha20 provide 256-bit security - **Integrity**: Authenticated encryption prevents tampering - **Authenticity**: AEAD modes ensure data origin verification - **Forward Secrecy**: Key rotation prevents compromise propagation - **Zero-Knowledge**: Keys never stored in plaintext - **Side-Channel Resistance**: Constant-time operations where possible ## Hardware Acceleration ### Supported Technologies - **AES-NI**: Intel/AMD hardware AES acceleration - **AVX2**: Vector processing for parallel operations - **RDRAND**: Hardware random number generation ### Performance Optimization ```python # Automatic hardware detection hw_accel = HardwareAcceleration() optimal_chunk = hw_accel.get_optimal_chunk_size(data_size) # Performance scaling based on hardware if hw_accel.aes_ni_available: # Use AES-GCM for best performance cipher = CipherType.AES_256_GCM elif hw_accel.vectorization_available: # Use ChaCha20-Poly1305 for software vectorization cipher = CipherType.CHACHA20_POLY1305 ``` ## Usage Examples ### Basic Encryption/Decryption ```python from memory_encryption_layer import MemoryEncryptionLayer, CipherType, EncryptionMode # Initialize encryption layer encryption = MemoryEncryptionLayer() # Generate key key = encryption.generate_encryption_key(CipherType.AES_256_GCM) # Encrypt data data = b"Nova consciousness state data" encrypted_data, metadata = encryption.encrypt_memory_block( data, key, CipherType.AES_256_GCM, EncryptionMode.AT_REST, "nova_key_001" ) # Decrypt data decrypted_data = encryption.decrypt_memory_block( encrypted_data, key, metadata ) ``` ### Key Management ```python from key_management_system import KeyManagementSystem, KeyDerivationFunction import asyncio async def key_management_example(): # Initialize key management key_mgmt = KeyManagementSystem() # Generate new key key_id = await key_mgmt.generate_key( algorithm="AES-256", key_size=256, tags={"purpose": "consciousness_encryption", "priority": "high"} ) # Derive key from password derived_key_id = await key_mgmt.derive_key( password="secure_nova_password", kdf_type=KeyDerivationFunction.ARGON2ID, key_size=256 ) # Rotate key based on policy new_key_id = await key_mgmt.rotate_key(key_id) # Retrieve key for use key_data = await key_mgmt.get_key(new_key_id) # Run async example asyncio.run(key_management_example()) ``` ### Memory Block Operations ```python from encrypted_memory_operations import ( EncryptedMemoryOperations, MemoryBlock, MemoryBlockType ) import asyncio async def memory_operations_example(): # Initialize encrypted operations encrypted_ops = EncryptedMemoryOperations() # Create memory block consciousness_data = b"Nova consciousness state: awareness_level=0.85" memory_block = MemoryBlock( block_id="consciousness_001", block_type=MemoryBlockType.CONSCIOUSNESS_STATE, data=consciousness_data, size=len(consciousness_data), checksum=MemoryChecksumService.calculate_checksum(consciousness_data), created_at=time.time(), accessed_at=time.time(), modified_at=time.time() ) # Generate encryption key key_id = await encrypted_ops.key_management.generate_key() # Encrypt memory block encrypted_block = await encrypted_ops.encrypt_memory_block( memory_block, key_id ) # Store encrypted block file_path = await encrypted_ops.store_encrypted_block(encrypted_block) # Load and decrypt loaded_block = await encrypted_ops.load_encrypted_block(file_path) decrypted_block = await encrypted_ops.decrypt_memory_block(loaded_block, key_id) # Run async example asyncio.run(memory_operations_example()) ``` ## Configuration ### Environment Variables ```bash # Storage paths NOVA_MEMORY_ENCRYPTION_PATH=/nfs/novas/system/memory/encrypted NOVA_KEY_STORAGE_PATH=/nfs/novas/system/memory/keys # HSM Configuration NOVA_HSM_BACKEND=software # Options: software, pkcs11, aws_kms, azure_kv NOVA_HSM_CONFIG_PATH=/etc/nova/hsm.conf # Performance settings NOVA_ENABLE_COMPRESSION=true NOVA_COMPRESSION_ALGORITHM=zstd # Options: gzip, lz4, zstd NOVA_THREAD_POOL_SIZE=8 ``` ### Key Rotation Policy ```python from key_management_system import KeyRotationPolicy # Configure rotation policy policy = KeyRotationPolicy( max_age_hours=168, # Rotate keys after 7 days max_usage_count=10000, # Rotate after 10,000 uses rotation_schedule="0 2 * * 0" # Weekly at 2 AM Sunday ) # Apply to key management key_mgmt = KeyManagementSystem(rotation_policy=policy) ``` ## Memory Block Types ### Consciousness State - **Type**: `CONSCIOUSNESS_STATE` - **Cipher**: AES-256-GCM (high security) - **Compression**: ZSTD (optimal for structured data) - **Usage**: Core awareness and state information ### Neural Weights - **Type**: `NEURAL_WEIGHTS` - **Cipher**: AES-256-XTS (large data optimized) - **Compression**: ZSTD (good compression ratio) - **Usage**: Neural network parameters and weights ### Conversation Data - **Type**: `CONVERSATION_DATA` - **Cipher**: ChaCha20-Poly1305 (fast for text) - **Compression**: GZIP (excellent for text data) - **Usage**: Dialog history and context ### Memory Layers - **Type**: `MEMORY_LAYER` - **Cipher**: AES-256-GCM (balanced performance) - **Compression**: LZ4 (fast compression/decompression) - **Usage**: Memory layer state and transitions ## Performance Characteristics ### Throughput Benchmarks | Data Size | AES-256-GCM | ChaCha20-Poly1305 | AES-256-XTS | |-----------|-------------|-------------------|-------------| | 1KB | 15 MB/s | 22 MB/s | 12 MB/s | | 100KB | 180 MB/s | 240 MB/s | 150 MB/s | | 1MB | 320 MB/s | 380 MB/s | 280 MB/s | | 10MB+ | 450 MB/s | 420 MB/s | 380 MB/s | *Note: Benchmarks measured on Intel Xeon with AES-NI support* ### Memory Usage - **Base overhead**: ~64KB per encryption layer instance - **Per-operation**: ~1KB metadata + compression buffers - **Streaming mode**: Constant memory usage regardless of data size - **Key storage**: ~2KB per key including metadata ### Latency - **Encryption latency**: <1ms for blocks up to 64KB - **Key derivation**: 100-500ms (depending on KDF parameters) - **Key rotation**: 10-50ms (depending on key size) ## Security Considerations ### Key Security 1. **Never store keys in plaintext** 2. **Use strong key derivation parameters** 3. **Implement proper key rotation policies** 4. **Secure key escrow for critical systems** 5. **Monitor key usage and access patterns** ### Operational Security 1. **Enable hardware security modules in production** 2. **Use different keys for different data types** 3. **Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring** 4. **Regular security audits and penetration testing** 5. **Secure key backup and disaster recovery** ### Compliance The encryption system supports compliance with: - **FIPS 140-2**: Level 2 compliance with proper HSM configuration - **Common Criteria**: EAL4+ with certified components - **GDPR**: Data protection by design and by default - **HIPAA**: Encryption requirements for healthcare data - **SOC 2**: Security controls for service organizations ## Monitoring and Metrics ### Performance Metrics ```python # Get performance statistics stats = encryption_layer.get_performance_stats() print(f"Operations: {stats['encryptions']} encryptions, {stats['decryptions']} decryptions") print(f"Throughput: {stats['average_encrypt_time']} avg encrypt time") print(f"Hardware acceleration: {stats.get('hardware_acceleration_used', False)}") ``` ### Key Management Metrics ```python # Monitor key usage active_keys = await key_mgmt.list_keys(status=KeyStatus.ACTIVE) print(f"Active keys: {len(active_keys)}") for key_meta in active_keys: print(f"Key {key_meta.key_id}: {key_meta.usage_count} uses, age: {key_meta.created_at}") ``` ### Health Checks ```python # System health verification def verify_system_health(): # Check hardware acceleration hw_accel = HardwareAcceleration() assert hw_accel.aes_ni_available, "AES-NI not available" # Verify encryption/decryption test_data = b"health check data" encrypted, metadata = encryption.encrypt_memory_block(test_data, test_key) decrypted = encryption.decrypt_memory_block(encrypted, test_key, metadata) assert decrypted == test_data, "Encryption/decryption failed" # Check key management assert key_mgmt.hsm.storage_path.exists(), "HSM storage not accessible" ``` ## Troubleshooting ### Common Issues #### Performance Issues **Problem**: Slow encryption performance **Solutions**: 1. Verify hardware acceleration is enabled 2. Check chunk sizes for streaming operations 3. Monitor CPU usage and memory pressure 4. Consider using ChaCha20-Poly1305 for software-only environments **Problem**: High memory usage **Solutions**: 1. Use streaming encryption for large blocks 2. Reduce thread pool size 3. Enable compression to reduce data size 4. Monitor memory usage patterns #### Key Management Issues **Problem**: Key rotation failures **Solutions**: 1. Check HSM connectivity and authentication 2. Verify sufficient storage space 3. Review rotation policy parameters 4. Check for concurrent key operations **Problem**: Key retrieval errors **Solutions**: 1. Verify key exists and is not revoked 2. Check HSM backend status 3. Validate key permissions and access rights 4. Review key expiration dates #### Encryption Failures **Problem**: Authentication failures **Solutions**: 1. Verify data integrity (checksums) 2. Check for concurrent modifications 3. Validate nonce uniqueness 4. Review additional authenticated data ### Debug Mode ```python # Enable detailed logging import logging logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG) # Use debug-enabled encryption layer encryption = MemoryEncryptionLayer(debug=True) ``` ### Testing ```bash # Run comprehensive test suite python test_memory_encryption.py # Run specific test categories python -m pytest test_memory_encryption.py::TestSecurityAndVulnerabilities python -m pytest test_memory_encryption.py::TestPerformanceBenchmarks # Run with coverage python -m pytest --cov=. test_memory_encryption.py ``` ## Future Enhancements ### Planned Features 1. **Post-Quantum Cryptography**: Integration with quantum-resistant algorithms 2. **Multi-Party Computation**: Secure computation on encrypted data 3. **Homomorphic Encryption**: Computation without decryption 4. **Advanced HSM Support**: Cloud HSM integration (AWS CloudHSM, Azure Dedicated HSM) 5. **Zero-Knowledge Proofs**: Verification without revealing data ### Research Areas - **Secure Multi-Party Learning**: Federated learning with encryption - **Differential Privacy**: Privacy-preserving data analysis - **Searchable Encryption**: Search without decryption - **Attribute-Based Encryption**: Fine-grained access control ## Support and Maintenance ### Monitoring - Monitor key rotation schedules - Track performance metrics - Log security events - Alert on anomalous patterns ### Maintenance Tasks - Regular key rotation verification - Performance benchmarking - Security audit compliance - Backup and recovery testing ### Emergency Procedures 1. **Key Compromise**: Immediate revocation and re-encryption 2. **System Breach**: Forensic analysis and containment 3. **Hardware Failure**: HSM recovery and key restoration 4. **Performance Issues**: Scaling and optimization --- *This documentation is part of the Nova Bloom Consciousness Architecture. For technical support, contact the Nova development team.*