Securing a distributed cache is essential for protecting sensitive application data and preventing unauthorized access. As applications run across Windows, Linux, on-premises infrastructure, and cloud environments, organizations need reliable authentication, encrypted communication, and secure data storage.
If you need such security in your distributed cache, then please note that NCache provides a multi-layered security framework with Active Directory/LDAP authentication, password-less gMSA, TLS 1.2/1.3, mutual TLS (mTLS), automatic certificate renewal, and AES encryption. Together, these features protect distributed caching environments without requiring separate identity management infrastructure.
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Active Directory and LDAP Authentication
NCache integrates with Microsoft Active Directory and LDAP to authenticate users and control access to cache servers and data.
Key features include:
- Centralized authentication: Authenticate Node Administrators and Cache Users through Active Directory or LDAP.
- Existing users and groups: Use existing directory identities without maintaining a separate NCache user directory.
- Role-based access control: Separate server administration from application-level cache access.
Node Administrators can configure and manage caches, while Cache Users are restricted to authorized data operations.
Windows gMSA: Password-less Authentication
NCache supports Windows Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) for password-less application authentication using Kerberos.
This eliminates the need to store authentication passwords in application configuration files.
- Windows applications authenticate using gMSA and Kerberos without stored passwords.
- Active Directory automatically manages and rotates gMSA passwords.
- Supports ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, IIS application pools, and Windows Services.
gMSA enables secure authentication for NCache Cache Users while reducing credential management overhead.
TLS 1.2/1.3 and Mutual TLS (mTLS)
NCache supports TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 to encrypt communication across distributed cache environments.
TLS protects:
- Client-to-server communication.
- Server-to-server communication within cache clusters.
- Bridge communication between geographically distributed caches.
With regular TLS, clients authenticate the server using its certificate. Mutual TLS (mTLS) extends this security by authenticating both clients and servers through digital certificates.
NCache supports a consistent TLS configuration approach on Windows and Linux, helping organizations secure communication across different operating systems.
NCache-Provided TLS Certificates with Automatic Renewal
Managing certificates across multiple cache servers can be challenging. NCache reduces this effort with built-in TLS certificate management.
- Automatic certificate provisioning: NCache generates and provisions its own TLS server certificates.
- Automatic renewal: Certificates are renewed before expiration without requiring server restarts.
- Private key protection: Private keys remain on their respective servers.
- Custom certificate support: Organizations can also use certificates issued by their own Certificate Authority (CA).
These capabilities help maintain encrypted communication while reducing manual certificate administration.
AES-256 Data Encryption
Beyond network security, NCache protects sensitive data through client-side encryption.
Application data is encrypted before reaching NCache servers and remains encrypted in cache memory and during replication between cache nodes.
NCache supports:
- AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256 encryption.
- AES-FIPS encryption for environments with specific cryptographic requirements.
- Layered encryption key management using Data Encryption Keys (DEK), Key Encryption Keys (KEK), and Credentials Encryption Keys (CEK).
NCache also uses RSA-based mechanisms for secure key and credential exchange.
By combining data encryption with TLS, organizations can protect cached information both in transit and while stored in memory.
Secure NCache Administration
NCache protects administrative operations through authentication, authorization, and encrypted management communication.
- Authenticated administration: NCache Management Center and PowerShell use Active Directory/LDAP authentication when security is enabled.
- Separated permissions: Node Administrators manage caches and servers, while Cache Users have data access permissions only.
- Secure communication: HTTPS and TLS protect supported administrative connections.
This ensures that only authorized administrators can manage cache infrastructure while application users remain limited to their assigned permissions.
Security Across Windows, Linux, and Cloud
NCache extends its security capabilities across on-premises, cloud, and containerized environments.
- Windows Server: Supports on-premises deployments and Windows virtual machines in Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud.
- Active Directory integration: Works with existing and compatible cloud-managed Active Directory services.
- Linux: Supports LDAP authentication, TLS/mTLS, and data encryption.
- Docker and Kubernetes: Supports TLS/mTLS and data encryption, with additional authentication options depending on the deployment.
These capabilities allow organizations to implement security across hybrid and multi-cloud environments while accommodating platform-specific authentication requirements.
Conclusion
Protecting a distributed cache requires secure authentication, access control, encrypted communication, and data protection.
NCache combines Active Directory/LDAP, password-less gMSA, TLS/mTLS, automatic certificate renewal, AES-256 encryption, and secure administration to provide a comprehensive security framework across Windows, Linux, and cloud deployments.
Whether running on-premises or in the cloud, organizations can use these features to protect sensitive cached data and control access to their distributed caching infrastructure.
Security Details Docs Try NCache
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How does NCache secure distributed cache data?
A: NCache provides Active Directory/LDAP authentication, role-based access control, TLS/mTLS, and client-side AES encryption. These features protect cached data from unauthorized access during transmission, storage in cache memory, and replication.
Q: Does NCache support password-less authentication with gMSA?
A: Yes. NCache supports Windows Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) for password-less Cache User authentication using Kerberos. Active Directory automatically rotates gMSA passwords, eliminating the need to store application authentication passwords.
Q: What is the difference between TLS and mutual TLS (mTLS) in NCache?
A: Regular TLS encrypts communication and authenticates the server using a digital certificate. Mutual TLS (mTLS) additionally authenticates clients through certificates, providing two-way certificate-based authentication.
Q: Does NCache automatically renew TLS certificates?
A: Yes. NCache can generate, provision, and automatically renew its managed TLS server certificates without restarting cache servers. Private keys remain on their respective servers, and organizations can also use custom CA-issued certificates.
Q: Does NCache support AES-256 encryption?
A: Yes. NCache supports AES-128, AES-192, AES-256, and AES-FIPS encryption. Data is encrypted on the client before reaching the cache server and remains encrypted in cache memory and during replication. NCache also provides layered encryption key management.
Q: Can NCache security features be used on Windows, Linux, and cloud platforms?
A: Yes. NCache supports security across Windows, Linux, Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Docker, and Kubernetes deployments. Active Directory/LDAP, TLS/mTLS, and data encryption are supported in applicable environments, while gMSA authentication is specific to supported Windows applications.
