Why combine ORAM and FHE?

• Oblivious RAM (ORAM) hides the access pattern of memory reads/writes, preventing leakage from which data is accessed.
• Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) lets a server compute on encrypted data without ever seeing the plaintext.

When both are used, an adversary learns nothing about the data values or the sequence of operations—crucial for secure cloud computation on sensitive workloads.

Core construction

Achieving constant‑time behavior

1. Fixed‑size buckets – Each ORAM node stores a constant number Z of ciphertexts (e.g., Z = 4).
2. Uniform access pattern – Every logical operation triggers the same number of homomorphic evaluations (e.g., always traverse a full path of height log₂ N).
3. Parallel homomorphic evaluation – Modern FHE schemes (CKKS, BFV) support SIMD packing; the server can process all buckets of a level in a single homomorphic batch, keeping latency independent of the accessed block.

Thus the total runtime per logical access is O(log N) in the number of homomorphic batches, but each batch has a constant size, yielding a practically constant‑time routine from the client’s perspective.

Example parameter set

• Data size: N = 2¹⁶ blocks.
• ORAM bucket size: Z = 4.
• FHE scheme: BFV with 128‑bit security, ciphertext modulus q ≈ 2⁶⁴.
• Batch size: Z·log₂ N = 4·16 = 64 ciphertext slots per homomorphic evaluation.

With these settings, a single logical read/write requires:

1. One homomorphic evaluation of the routing function per tree level (16 levels).
2. One homomorphic eviction pass (also 16 levels).

Both steps are executed in parallel across the 64 slots, giving a predictable wall‑clock time (e.g., ~200 ms on a modern GPU‑accelerated FHE server).

Security notes

• Access‑pattern leakage is eliminated by ORAM’s obliviousness.
• Data‑value leakage is prevented by the semantic security of the FHE scheme.
• The combined construction remains secure under the standard IND‑CPA assumption for FHE and the ORAM security definition (indistinguishability of access sequences).

In summary, a constant‑time routine can be built by storing FHE‑encrypted blocks in a fixed‑bucket ORAM tree, using homomorphic tokens to traverse the tree uniformly, and performing parallel homomorphic evaluations for routing and eviction. This yields predictable latency while protecting both data values and access patterns.

# ERP with Google Workspace and Google Appscripts with code samples.

Overview

An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system built on Google Workspace can leverage the suite’s core apps—Sheets, Docs, Drive, Gmail, Calendar—and automate workflows with Google Apps Script. Below are common ERP modules and sample Apps Script snippets that illustrate how to connect them.

1. Inventory Management (Sheets + Drive)

Key idea: Store inventory data in a Google Sheet; use Apps Script to update stock levels when a purchase order is approved.

/**
 * Decrease inventory when a PO is approved.
 * Triggered from a Google Form submission or a custom menu.
 */
function processPurchaseOrder(e) {
  const poSheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName('PurchaseOrders');
  const invSheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName('Inventory');

  // Assume the form sends: PO_ID, ITEM_ID, QUANTITY
  const poId = e.values[0];
  const itemId = e.values[1];
  const qty = Number(e.values[2]);

  // Find the inventory row for the item
  const invData = invSheet.getDataRange().getValues();
  for (let i = 1; i < invData.length; i++) {
    if (invData[i][0] === itemId) {               // Column A = Item ID
      const currentStock = Number(invData[i][2]); // Column C = Stock Qty
      invSheet.getRange(i + 1, 3).setValue(currentStock - qty);
      break;
    }
  }

  // Mark PO as processed
  const poRow = e.range.getRow();
  poSheet.getRange(poRow, 5).setValue('Processed'); // Column E = Status
}

Deploy: Attach processPurchaseOrder to a Form submit trigger or a custom menu item in the PO sheet.

2. Sales Order Entry (Forms + Sheets + Gmail)

Key idea: Capture sales orders via Google Form, store them in a Sheet, and automatically email an order confirmation.

function onSalesFormSubmit(e) {
  const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  const orders = ss.getSheetByName('SalesOrders');
  const row = e.range.getRow();

  // Pull data from the form submission
  const [orderId, clientEmail, product, qty] = e.values;

  // Add a timestamp and status
  orders.getRange(row, 6).setValue(new Date());      // Column F = Received
  orders.getRange(row, 7).setValue('Pending');      // Column G = Status

  // Build email body
  const body = `
    Hi,

    Thank you for your order #${orderId}. Here are the details:

    • Product: ${product}
    • Quantity: ${qty}

    We will notify you once the order is processed.

    Best,
    Sales Team
  `;

  // Send confirmation
  GmailApp.sendEmail(clientEmail, `Order Confirmation #${orderId}`, body);
}

Deploy: Set a Form submit trigger for onSalesFormSubmit.

3. Expense Reporting (Docs + Sheets + Drive)

Key idea: Employees fill a Google Form; a script generates a formatted expense report in Docs and saves it to a shared Drive folder.

function generateExpenseReport(e) {
  const templateId = '1A2bC3dEfGhIjKlMnOpQrStUvWxYz'; // Docs template file ID
  const folderId   = '0B1cD2eF3gHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ'; // Shared Drive folder

  const [empName, date, category, amount, description] = e.values;

  // Make a copy of the template
  const copy = DriveApp.getFileById(templateId).makeCopy(`${empName} – Expense ${date}`);
  const doc  = DocumentApp.openById(copy.getId());

  // Replace placeholders in the template
  const body = doc.getBody();
  body.replaceText('{{EMPLOYEE}}', empName);
  body.replaceText('{{DATE}}', date);
  body.replaceText('{{CATEGORY}}', category);
  body.replaceText('{{AMOUNT}}', `$${Number(amount).toFixed(2)}`);
  body.replaceText('{{DESCRIPTION}}', description);
  doc.saveAndClose();

  // Move to the shared folder
  DriveApp.getFolderById(folderId).addFile(copy);
  DriveApp.getRootFolder().removeFile(copy);
}

Deploy: Attach to the Form submit trigger of the expense form.

4. Project Management Dashboard (Sheets + Calendar)

Key idea: Sync project milestones from a Sheet to Google Calendar events.

function syncMilestonesToCalendar() {
  const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  const projSheet = ss.getSheetByName('Projects');
  const cal = CalendarApp.getCalendarById('your-team@yourdomain.com');

  const data = projSheet.getDataRange().getValues();
  for (let i = 1; i < data.length; i++) {
    const [projId, milestone, dueDate, status] = data[i];
    if (status !== 'Scheduled') continue; // Only schedule once

    // Create calendar event
    cal.createAllDayEvent(`${projId} – ${milestone}`, new Date(dueDate));

    // Mark as scheduled
    projSheet.getRange(i + 1, 4).setValue('Scheduled');
  }
}

Deploy: Run manually or set a time‑driven trigger (e.g., daily).

5. Approval Workflow (Gmail + Sheets + Apps Script)

Key idea: Send an approval request email with “Approve” / “Reject” links that update a Sheet when clicked.

function sendApprovalRequest(row) {
  const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  const sheet = ss.getSheetByName('Approvals');
  const [reqId, requester, amount, status] = sheet.getRange(row, 1, 1, 4).getValues()[0];

  const approveUrl = ScriptApp.getService().getUrl() + `?action=approve&id=${reqId}`;
  const rejectUrl  = ScriptApp.getService().getUrl() + `?action=reject&id=${reqId}`;

  const html = `
    <p>Approval needed for request #${reqId}:</p>
    <ul>
      <li>Requester: ${requester}</li>
      <li>Amount: $${amount}</li>
    </ul>
    <p>
      <a href="${approveUrl}">Approve</a> |
      <a href="${rejectUrl}">Reject</a>
    </p>
  `;

  GmailApp.sendEmail('manager@yourdomain.com',
                     `Approval Request #${reqId}`,
                     '',
                     {htmlBody: html});
}

/**
 * Web app entry point for approval links.
 */
function doGet(e) {
  const id = e.parameter.id;
  const action = e.parameter.action;
  const ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  const sheet = ss.getSheetByName('Approvals');
  const rows = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();

  for (let i = 1; i < rows.length; i++) {
    if (rows[i][0] == id) {
      sheet.getRange(i + 1, 4).setValue(action === 'approve' ? 'Approved' : 'Rejected');
      break;
    }
  }
  return HtmlService.createHtmlOutput('Your response has been recorded.');
}

Deploy: Publish the script as a Web app (execute as “Me”, accessible to “Anyone”). Call sendApprovalRequest from a button or trigger.

6. Consolidated Reporting (Data Studio / Looker Studio)

While Apps Script handles data capture, you can connect the Sheets directly to Looker Studio for visual dashboards. No code is required beyond sharing the Sheet with the reporting service.

Quick-start checklist

These snippets give a functional skeleton; you can extend them with validation, error handling, and role‑based access as needed for a production‑grade ERP built entirely on Google Workspace.

# Write a framework for SER (Sovernty Ephemerality Reproducibility)

SER Framework Overview

The Sovereignty Ephemerality Reproducibility (SER) framework provides a structured approach for building systems that:

1. Sovereignty – give data owners full control over access, usage, and lifecycle.
2. Ephemerality – ensure data and computation artifacts are automatically retired after a defined lifespan.
3. Reproducibility – allow deterministic recreation of results from immutable provenance records, even after the original data has been purged.

1. Core Principles

2. Architectural Components

1. Policy Engine – validates access requests against owner‑signed policies.
2. Lease Manager – tracks TTLs, triggers automatic deletion, and notifies dependent services.
3. Provenance Store – immutable log of data lineage, transformation steps, and environment hashes.
4. Reproducible Executor – runs deterministic workloads inside sealed containers; records execution hash.
5. Revocation Service – processes owner‑initiated revocations, updates the provenance store, and propagates deletions.

3. Data Flow

flowchart TD
    A[Data Ingestion] --> B[Policy Engine]
    B --> C[Lease Manager]
    C --> D[Provenance Store]
    D --> E[Reproducible Executor]
    E --> F[Result Artifact]
    F --> G[Lease Manager (TTL)]
    subgraph Revocation
        H[Owner Revocation] --> B
    end

4. Sample Implementation (Python + Docker)

# ser_framework.py
import json, hashlib, time
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import serialization, hashes
from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import padding

# 1. Owner‑signed policy
def sign_policy(policy: dict, private_key_pem: bytes) -> dict:
    priv_key = serialization.load_pem_private_key(private_key_pem, password=None)
    policy_bytes = json.dumps(policy, sort_keys=True).encode()
    signature = priv_key.sign(
        policy_bytes,
        padding.PSS(mgf=padding.MGF1(hashes.SHA256()), salt_length=padding.PSS.MAX_LENGTH),
        hashes.SHA256(),
    )
    policy["signature"] = signature.hex()
    return policy

# 2. Verify policy
def verify_policy(policy: dict, public_key_pem: bytes) -> bool:
    sig = bytes.fromhex(policy.pop("signature"))
    pub_key = serialization.load_pem_public_key(public_key_pem)
    policy_bytes = json.dumps(policy, sort_keys=True).encode()
    try:
        pub_key.verify(
            sig,
            policy_bytes,
            padding.PSS(mgf=padding.MGF1(hashes.SHA256()), salt_length=padding.PSS.MAX_LENGTH),
            hashes.SHA256(),
        )
        return True
    except Exception:
        return False

# 3. Create lease record
def create_lease(ttl_seconds: int) -> dict:
    expiry = datetime.utcnow() + timedelta(seconds=ttl_seconds)
    return {"expiry": expiry.isoformat() + "Z", "created": datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z"}

# 4. Record provenance entry
def provenance_entry(data_hash: str, exec_hash: str, env_hash: str) -> dict:
    entry = {
        "data_hash": data_hash,
        "exec_hash": exec_hash,
        "env_hash": env_hash,
        "timestamp": datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z",
    }
    entry["entry_hash"] = hashlib.sha256(json.dumps(entry, sort_keys=True).encode()).hexdigest()
    return entry

Dockerfile (deterministic build)

# Dockerfile.deterministic
FROM python:3.12-slim@sha256:3b2e5c9f8a1d4e6b9c7f2a1d5e8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b
WORKDIR /app
COPY requirements.txt .
RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt && \
    python - <<'PY'
import hashlib, sys, subprocess, json, os
# Pin all installed wheels to their hashes
for line in open('requirements.txt'):
    pkg = line.strip()
    subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, '-m', 'pip', 'download', '--no-deps', '--dest', '/tmp', pkg])
PY
COPY ser_framework.py .
CMD ["python", "-m", "ser_framework"]

Key points: the base image is referenced by its SHA‑256 digest, and the build script pins every wheel to its hash, guaranteeing reproducibility across builds.

5. Operational Guidelines

• Policy Rotation – rotate owner keys periodically; keep a revocation list in the provenance ledger.
• TTL Granularity – choose TTLs that balance privacy (shorter) with reproducibility (longer); store the TTL in the lease record.
• Audit Trails – expose a read‑only API that returns the Merkle proof for any provenance entry.
• Testing – run deterministic test suites that compare execution hashes against stored provenance to detect drift.

6. Example Use‑Case

A research consortium collects genomic samples. Each sample owner signs a policy allowing analysis for 30 days. The data is ingested, a lease of 30 days is created, and the analysis runs inside a reproducible Docker container. After 30 days, the lease manager automatically deletes the raw data, but the provenance store retains the hash of the input, the container image hash, and the execution hash. A future auditor can verify that the published results match the recorded provenance without ever accessing the original samples.

This framework equips you with the architectural blueprint, core code primitives, and best‑practice guidelines to implement SER in any data‑sensitive environment.

# What is a full chain SBOM?

A full chain Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) is a comprehensive inventory that details all components, libraries, and dependencies used in a software product, including their versions and origins. It provides transparency into the software supply chain, allowing organizations to understand what is included in their software and to manage security and compliance risks effectively.

Key Features of a Full Chain SBOM:

1. Comprehensive Inventory: It includes all software components, both proprietary and open-source, as well as their dependencies.
2. Versioning Information: Each component listed in the SBOM includes version numbers, which are crucial for identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring compatibility.
3. Source Information: The SBOM specifies where each component comes from, whether it’s an internal library, an open-source project, or a third-party vendor.
4. Licensing Details: It often includes information about the licenses associated with each component, helping organizations comply with legal requirements.
5. Vulnerability Management: By providing a detailed view of all components, a full chain SBOM enables organizations to quickly identify and address vulnerabilities in their software.
6. Regulatory Compliance: Many industries are moving towards requiring SBOMs for compliance with regulations and standards, making them essential for risk management.

Importance of a Full Chain SBOM:

• Security: It helps organizations identify and mitigate security risks by providing visibility into all components and their vulnerabilities.
• Supply Chain Transparency: It enhances trust in the software supply chain by ensuring that all components are accounted for and vetted.
• Incident Response: In the event of a security breach, a full chain SBOM allows organizations to quickly assess the impact and take appropriate action.

In summary, a full chain SBOM is a vital tool for managing software supply chain risks, ensuring compliance, and enhancing overall software security.

# What makes it “full chain”?

The term “full chain” in the context of a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) refers to the comprehensive nature of the inventory it provides, encompassing all elements involved in the software supply chain. Here are the key aspects that contribute to the “full chain” designation:

1. Complete Component Coverage: A full chain SBOM includes not only the primary software application but also all its dependencies, libraries, and modules. This means every piece of software that contributes to the final product is documented.
2. Depth of Dependencies: It captures not just direct dependencies (the libraries or components that the software directly uses) but also transitive dependencies (the dependencies of those dependencies). This ensures that every layer of the software stack is accounted for.
3. Source and Origin Information: A full chain SBOM provides details about where each component originates, including whether it is open-source, proprietary, or third-party. This transparency is crucial for understanding the supply chain.
4. Versioning and Integrity: It includes version numbers for each component, which is essential for tracking vulnerabilities and ensuring that the software is built with the correct and secure versions of each dependency.
5. Licensing and Compliance: The SBOM documents the licenses associated with each component, which is important for legal compliance and understanding the implications of using certain software.
6. Security and Vulnerability Data: A full chain SBOM often integrates information about known vulnerabilities associated with each component, enabling organizations to proactively manage security risks.
7. Lifecycle Information: It may also include details about the lifecycle of each component, such as support status and end-of-life information, which is important for maintenance and security planning.

By encompassing all these elements, a “full chain” SBOM provides a holistic view of the software supply chain, enabling organizations to manage risks, ensure compliance, and maintain security effectively.

# What about each layer of the component chain? Would the firmware from the base system in a docker build environment that produces an SBOM for the image also need an SBOM of its own?

Yes, each layer of the component chain, including firmware and other foundational elements, should ideally have its own Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). This is particularly important in complex environments like Docker, where multiple layers and components interact. Here’s how this works:

Layered Components in a Software Supply Chain

1. Base System Firmware: The firmware of the base system (e.g., the operating system or hardware firmware) is a critical component. It often contains essential drivers and system libraries that applications depend on. An SBOM for the firmware would provide visibility into its components, versions, and any known vulnerabilities.
2. Container Images: In a Docker build environment, each image can consist of multiple layers, each potentially built from different base images or components. Each of these layers should have its own SBOM to document the software and dependencies included in that layer.
3. Application Dependencies: The application itself, along with its libraries and dependencies, should also have an SBOM. This includes any third-party libraries, frameworks, and tools that the application uses.

Importance of Layered SBOMs

• Comprehensive Risk Management: By having an SBOM for each layer, organizations can better manage risks associated with vulnerabilities at every level of the software stack. If a vulnerability is discovered in the firmware, for example, having an SBOM allows for quick identification of affected systems.
• Traceability: Layered SBOMs provide traceability throughout the software supply chain. This means that if an issue arises, organizations can trace it back through each layer to identify the source of the problem.
• Compliance and Auditing: Many regulatory frameworks require detailed documentation of software components. Layered SBOMs help organizations meet these requirements by providing a clear view of all components, including those at the firmware level.
• Supply Chain Transparency: Understanding the entire supply chain, including firmware, helps organizations assess the security posture of their software and make informed decisions about component usage.

Conclusion

In summary, each layer of the component chain, including firmware from the base system in a Docker build environment, should have its own SBOM. This approach ensures comprehensive visibility, risk management, and compliance throughout the software supply chain, ultimately enhancing security and reliability.

# More focused on #1 Base System Firmware; harware level firmware SBOM as well as an SBOM for the running OS environment will complete what is know as a “full chain SBOM”

Absolutely! When discussing a “full chain SBOM,” it’s essential to include both the hardware-level firmware and the operating system (OS) environment. Here’s how each contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the software supply chain:

1. Hardware-Level Firmware SBOM

• Definition: This SBOM includes all the firmware that runs on the hardware components of a system, such as the BIOS/UEFI, device firmware (e.g., for network cards, storage controllers, etc.), and any other embedded software that interacts directly with the hardware.
• Importance:
  • Security: Hardware-level firmware can have vulnerabilities that may be exploited, making it crucial to track and manage these components.
  • Compatibility: Understanding the firmware versions helps ensure compatibility with the OS and applications running on the system.
  • Updates and Patching: An SBOM for firmware allows organizations to manage updates and patches effectively, ensuring that all components are secure and up to date.

2. Operating System Environment SBOM

• Definition: This SBOM encompasses the operating system itself, including its core components, libraries, and any installed packages or applications.
• Importance:
  • Dependency Management: The OS environment often includes numerous libraries and dependencies that applications rely on. An SBOM helps track these components and their versions.
  • Vulnerability Awareness: By documenting the OS and its components, organizations can quickly identify vulnerabilities and take action to mitigate risks.
  • Compliance: Many regulatory frameworks require detailed documentation of the software stack, including the OS, to ensure compliance with security standards.

Completing the Full Chain SBOM

By including both the hardware-level firmware SBOM and the OS environment SBOM, organizations achieve a “full chain SBOM” that provides:

• Holistic Visibility: A complete view of all components involved in the software supply chain, from hardware to applications.
• Enhanced Security Posture: The ability to identify and address vulnerabilities at every level, reducing the risk of exploitation.
• Improved Incident Response: In the event of a security incident, having a full chain SBOM allows for rapid assessment and response, as organizations can trace issues back through the entire stack.

Conclusion

In summary, a full chain SBOM is achieved by including both the hardware-level firmware and the operating system environment. This comprehensive approach ensures that all components are accounted for, enhancing security, compliance, and overall risk management in the software supply chain

# I need to integrate a U2F authentication mechanism into the shell access of u-boot

Integrating U2F (Universal 2nd Factor) authentication into the shell access of U-Boot is a multi-step process involving several components. Here’s a high-level overview of the steps you need to take:

1. Understand U-Boot: Ensure you have a good understanding of U-Boot and its configuration and compilation process.
2. U2F Authentication Library: Choose or implement a U2F authentication library in C. You might use an existing library like libu2f-server as a reference.
3. Integrate U2F into U-Boot:
   • Modify the U-Boot source code to include the U2F authentication step during shell access.
   • Add the necessary calls to the U2F library in U-Boot’s shell access code.
4. Configure U-Boot Build:
   • Ensure the U-Boot build system includes the U2F library and its dependencies.
   • Modify the U-Boot configuration to enable the new U2F authentication mechanism.
5. Testing: Thoroughly test the modified U-Boot to ensure that the U2F authentication works correctly without introducing any security vulnerabilities or instabilities.

Here is a more detailed breakdown with some example code snippets:

Step 1: Choose a U2F Library

You need a library that can handle U2F authentication requests and responses. For simplicity, let’s assume you have a library with the following interface:

#include <u2f.h>int u2f_authenticate(const char *challenge, const char *app_id, char *response, size_t response_len);

Step 2: Modify U-Boot Source Code

Locate the U-Boot shell access code. This might be in a file like cmd_boot.c or similar, depending on your U-Boot version. You’ll need to add code to call the U2F authentication function before granting shell access.

#include <u2f.h>#include <config.h>  // U-Boot configuration headerstatic int do_shell(cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int flag, int argc, char *const argv[])
{
    char challenge[32];
    char response[64];
    constchar *app_id = "your-app-id";
    
    // Generate a challenge (this is just an example, use a proper challenge generation)strcpy(challenge, "your-challenge");

    // Perform U2F authenticationif (u2f_authenticate(challenge, app_id, response, sizeof(response)) != 0) {
        printf("U2F authentication failed\n");
        return CMD_RET_FAILURE;
    }

    // U2F authentication succeeded, proceed with shell accessreturn run_command("bootm", flag);
}

/* Add the command to U-Boot's command table */
U_BOOT_CMD(
    shell, CONFIG_SYS_MAXARGS, 1, do_shell,
    "shell", "Enter the shell with U2F authentication"
);

Step 3: Configure Build System

Modify the U-Boot Makefile to include the U2F library and its dependencies. Ensure the library is built and linked correctly.

Makefile

# Add U2F library to the build
LIBU2F = libu2f.a

$(LIBU2F): 
    $(MAKE) -C $(LIBU2F_DIR)$(obj)u-boot: $(LIBU2F)$(LD)$(LDFLAGS) -o $@$(LIBS)$(LIBU2F)

Step 4: Enable Configuration

Ensure that the U-Boot configuration file (e.g., include/configs/your_board.h) enables the new U2F authentication mechanism:

#define CONFIG_CMD_SHELL 1#define CONFIG_LIBU2F 1

Step 5: Build and Test

1. Build U-Boot:bashmake distclean make your_board_defconfig make
2. Flash U-Boot onto your device and test the U2F authentication by accessing the shell.
3. Debugging and Iteration: If any issues arise, debug and iterate on the implementation.

Important Considerations:

• Security: Ensure that the U2F challenge-response mechanism is secure and that the challenge is generated correctly.
• Dependency Management: Make sure all dependencies for the U2F library are met.
• Testing: Thoroughly test the implementation to ensure it does not introduce vulnerabilities or instability.