Trusted random number generation by a cloud server

A computer program product for generating a random number in a cloud-based random number server, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage device having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:

• identifying, by a cloud-based random number server, multiple entropy sources, wherein each of the multiple entropy sources is capable of providing entropic signals that are derived from an exclusive random event;
• identifying, by the cloud-based random number server, multiple disjointed entropy sources from the multiple entropy sources, wherein the multiple disjointed entropy sources are logically and functionally independent of one another;
• randomly selecting, by the cloud-based random number server, multiple disparate entropy sources from the multiple disjointed entropy sources;
• receiving, by the cloud-based random number server, multiple entropic values from the multiple disparate entropy sources, wherein each of the multiple disparate entropy sources supplies an entropic value that describes a type of entropic event not found in other entropy sources from the multiple disparate entropy sources;
• mixing, by the cloud-based random number server, the multiple entropic values to create a combined entropic value;
• inputting, by the cloud-based random number server, the combined entropic value into a random number generator on the cloud-based random number server to generate a random number;
• transmitting the random number from the cloud-based random number server to a client computer, wherein the client computer uses the random number as an input to a client operation performed by the client computer;
• determining which of the multiple disparate entropy sources are authorized entropy sources that are authorized to be used by the cloud-based random number server;
• storing the authorized entropy sources in a library;
• and
• selecting, by the cloud-based random number server, one or more of the authorized entropy sources from the library to supply the multiple entropic values.

A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer readable memories, and one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer readable memories, the stored program instructions comprising:

• program instructions to identify multiple entropy sources, wherein each of the multiple entropy sources is capable of providing entropic signals that are derived from an exclusive random event;
• program instructions to identify multiple disjointed entropy sources from the multiple entropy sources, wherein the multiple disjointed entropy sources are logically and functionally independent of one another;
• program instructions to randomly select multiple disparate entropy sources from the multiple disjointed entropy sources;
• program instructions to receive multiple entropic values from the multiple disparate entropy sources, wherein each of the multiple disparate entropy sources supplies an entropic value that describes a type of entropic event not found in other entropy sources from the multiple disparate entropy sources;
• program instructions to mix the multiple entropic values to create a combined entropic value;
• program instructions to input the combined entropic value into a random number generator on a cloud-based random number server to generate a random number;
• program instructions to transmit, from the random number to a client computer, the random number, wherein the client computer uses the random number as an input to a client operation performed by the client computer;
• program instructions to determine which of the multiple disparate entropy sources are authorized entropy sources that are authorized to be used by the cloud-based random number server;
• program instructions to store the authorized entropy sources in a library;
• and
• program instructions to select one or more of the authorized entropy sources from the library to supply the multiple entropic values.