1.

Project Overview
This document aims to provide a comprehensive security architecture for the PAN 2.0 project,
ensuring that all components, including frontend, backend, containers, and data storage, are
secured against vulnerabilities and attacks. The document outlines the security measures necessary
to protect sensitive data and services from unauthorized access, loss, or damage, ensuring
compliance with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. The security architecture
encompasses the frontend application portal and mobile application (built using Next.JS and
Flutter/React-Native), the middle infrastructure (which includes containers and backend engines),
and the backend services (e.g., AI, BI, search engines). It also includes the data storage technologies
(Hadoop, SQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Aadhaar Vault, and PAN Data Vault) and the real-time
communication system (RTC) used for user interactions.

2. Architecture Overview
2.1 Client-Side Architecture
Application Portal: The application portal, developed using Next.JS, provides a dynamic, server-side
rendered user interface for users to interact with PAN/TAN services. Secure communication is
ensured through HTTPS using TLS encryption.

Mobile Application: Built with Flutter/React-Native, the mobile app enables users to access
PAN/TAN services on mobile devices. Secure OAuth 2.0 authentication and JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
are employed for session management and API access.

2.2 Middle Infrastructure (Containers and

Backend Engines)
2.2.1 Containerization
The backend services are deployed in containers using Docker within a Platform as a Service (PaaS)
framework. This provides scalability, isolation, and management of resources while ensuring that
each container has access to only the services it needs. Services are logically separated into three
containers:

First Container (CaaS - PAN Services): Handles PAN-related operations such as PAN issuance,
tracking, downloading, and linking with Aadhaar. Security measures like API Gateway for traffic
management, Web Application Firewall (WAF) for filtering HTTP traffic, and Token-based
Authentication for secure API access are implemented.

Second Container (CaaS - TAN Services): Handles TAN-related services such as issuance, corrections,
and verifications. Encryption at rest for sensitive data (e.g., TAN details) and rate-limiting for APIs to
prevent abuse are key security measures.

Third Container (CaaS - Other Services): Provides ancillary services like Grievance Management,
Security Operations Center (SOC), and IT helpdesk. This container handles incident responses and
logs all activities in a secure manner using Audit Logs and SIEM (Security Information and Event
Management) systems.
2.2.2 Backend Engines
AI Engine: Provides machine learning models for analytics, with cache management for reducing
latency. The system uses TensorFlow or PyTorch for model execution and Redis for caching
frequently accessed data.

BI Engine: Provides business intelligence analytics. It integrates with data storage systems like
Hadoop and SQL databases for reporting and decision-making. The BI engine uses ETL (Extract,
Transform, Load) processes to process raw data for reporting and analysis.

Search Engine: Handles full-text search operations with technologies like Elasticsearch or Apache
Solr. The search engine is optimized for performance using indexing techniques and data caching
mechanisms.

2.2.3 Data Storage

Hadoop: Utilized as a Data Lake for storing large volumes of unstructured and semi-structured data.
Hadoop provides a distributed file system (HDFS) for storing data across multiple nodes to ensure
high availability and fault tolerance.

SQL (Master Data): Relational databases like PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL Server store critical
transactional and master data. Data is encrypted at rest using Transparent Data Encryption (TDE),
and access is governed by RBAC (Role-Based Access Control).

MySQL: Utilized for transactional data, leveraging ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation,
Durability) to ensure integrity.

MongoDB: Stores unstructured data such as user feedback, comments, and logs. It provides
horizontal scalability and sharding for large-scale datasets.

Redis: In-memory data structure store used for session management, caching, and storing
ephemeral data. Redis is configured for persistence and replication to ensure high availability.

Aadhaar Vault and PAN Data Vault: Secure storage for Aadhaar and PAN data, protected by FIPS
140-2 validated encryption modules, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

2.2.4 Real-Time Communication (RTC)

The real-time communication system facilitates live query submissions from users, leveraging Web
Sockets or WebRTC for low-latency, bi-directional communication. Secure socket communication is
established using TLS 1.2/1.3.

3. Security Principles
Confidentiality: Protect sensitive data from unauthorized access using encryption at rest and in
transit, access controls, and secure authentication protocols (OAuth2, SAML).

Integrity: Ensure the accuracy and consistency of data by employing checksums, hashing algorithms
(e.g., SHA-256), and digital signatures for verifying data integrity during transmission and storage.

Availability: Maintain service uptime through distributed systems, load balancing, and failover
mechanisms. Ensure Disaster Recovery (DR) capabilities and regularly test backups.
4. Risk Assessment
Data Breaches: Identify potential risks to sensitive user data, especially in Aadhaar and PAN-related
services, and protect against them using end-to-end encryption and access control lists (ACLs).

Denial of Service (DoS): Mitigate risks like DDoS using traffic rate-limiting, Web Application
Firewalls (WAFs), and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) for load distribution.

Injection Attacks: Protect APIs and databases from SQL injection, Command injection, and other
forms of code injection using input validation, prepared statements, and ORMs (Object-Relational
Mapping).

5. Data Protection
Encryption: Use AES-256 encryption for data at rest and TLS 1.2/1.3 for encrypted communication
channels.

Tokenization: For sensitive data such as PAN and Aadhaar, implement tokenization to replace
sensitive data with unique tokens in the database, reducing exposure in case of data breaches.

Secure Backup: Regular backups of critical data stored in an encrypted format, with backups placed
in geographically redundant locations.

6. Authentication and Authorization

OAuth2: Used for authentication and authorization, particularly for accessing APIs securely. OAuth2
is combined with OpenID Connect (OIDC) for federated identity management.

RBAC (Role-Based Access Control): Implemented to control access to resources and services based
on user roles and permissions. This ensures users have access only to the data and services required
for their job functions.

MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): Strong authentication methods like SMS, email, or app-based
codes, combined with something the user knows (password), increase security for accessing
sensitive operations.

7. Network Security
Firewall: Network firewalls protect the backend services, restricting access to specific IP ranges and
blocking malicious traffic.

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Deployed at various network segments to monitor for unusual or
suspicious activity. Logs from these systems are fed into a SIEM system for analysis.

DDoS Protection: Use Cloudflare or AWS Shield for DDoS protection, filtering high volumes of
malicious traffic before it reaches the system.

8. Monitoring and Logging

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management): Collect, normalize, and analyze logs from
various systems (web server logs, firewall logs, etc.) to detect potential threats.
Audit Logging: Implement detailed audit logging for all critical system operations, ensuring each
action is recorded with timestamps, user details, and operation descriptions.

Real-Time Monitoring: Use monitoring tools such as Prometheus and Grafana to visualize system
performance and security metrics.

9. Incident Response
Incident Response Plan (IRP): A predefined set of steps for responding to security incidents,
including containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident analysis.

Grievance Management: Monitor and handle any user-reported security incidents, including
unauthorized access or fraud attempts.

10. Compliance and Regulatory

Requirements
GDPR: Ensure the system adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation for handling personal
data of EU citizens, including data minimization, consent management, and right to be forgotten.

PCI-DSS: If payment information is involved, implement PCI-DSS compliance for secure payment
data handling and transmission.

ISO 27001: Follow industry standards for information security management, including risk
assessment, documentation, and control measures.

11. Security Testing

Penetration Testing: Regular tests using tools like OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite to identify security
vulnerabilities such as XSS, CSRF, and SQL Injection.

Vulnerability Scanning: Implement automated vulnerability scanners such as Qualys or Nessus to

identify software vulnerabilities and patch outdated dependencies.

12. Conclusion
Continuous Improvement: Security is an ongoing process, and this architecture will evolve as new
threats are identified. Continuous assessment, regular updates, and training for the development
and security teams are essential to maintain a secure environment.