Adaptive Incident Prioritization Engine Using BM25 Security Ranking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional security management systems lack comprehensive computing logic and infrastructure for effective security incident prioritization, leading to inefficiencies in incident ranking and resource allocation, particularly in large Security Operations Centers (SOCs) handling thousands of incidents daily.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive incident prioritization engine employing a modified BM25 algorithm, utilizing local relevance metrics and global rarity metrics, to rank security incidents based on their significance, with a dual job pipeline configuration for historical analysis and real-time processing, ensuring the most critical incidents are prioritized.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional security management systems are used without sophisticated ranking algorithms, then the system complexity and resource investment are reduced, but the incident prioritization effectiveness and analyst productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveincident prioritization effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The incident prioritization system is segmented into distinct functional modules: data collection module, feature extraction module, ranking algorithm module, and output module. This segmentation allows the complex system to be managed through independent, manageable components while maintaining high prioritization effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary ranking algorithm layer that sits between the raw security incident data and the analyst decision-making process. This intermediary automatically processes and ranks incidents using sophisticated algorithms, eliminating the need for analysts to manually evaluate each incident while managing complexity through automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If sophisticated ranking algorithms are implemented for incident prioritization, then the measurement precision and incident ranking accuracy are improved, but the device complexity and resource investment increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveincident ranking accuracyVSAvoidalgorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs parameter-based ranking algorithms that adjust weighting parameters dynamically based on incident characteristics. By changing parameters such as threat severity weights, frequency factors, and impact multipliers, the system achieves high ranking accuracy without requiring fundamentally complex algorithmic structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis processes with automated computational algorithms. Instead of analysts manually evaluating incident parameters, the system uses automated ranking algorithms that compute incident priorities based on predefined parameters and weighted factors, achieving high precision through computation rather than human judgment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of time

If manual incident prioritization is performed without automated ranking systems, then the system infrastructure and technology investment are reduced, but the loss of time and analyst efficiency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveincident response timeVSAvoidautomation level
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automated ranking of incidents as they are received, before analysts need to review them. By pre-processing and pre-ranking incidents using automated algorithms, the system eliminates time-wasting manual evaluation steps and prepares prioritized incident lists ready for analyst action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The incident prioritization system serves itself by automatically ranking and prioritizing incidents without requiring analyst intervention. The automated ranking algorithm independently processes incident data, generates priority scores, and produces ranked output, freeing analysts from time-consuming manual prioritization tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4704384A1Adaptive incident prioritization engine in a security management system
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4704384A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4704384A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4704384A1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer storage media for providing security incident prioritization management using an adaptive incident prioritization engine of a security management system are described. The adaptive incident prioritization engine provides security incident prioritization based on an adaptive incident prioritization (AIP) framework built using a ranking algorithm. In particular, the adaptive incident prioritization framework employs a Best Matching 25 (BM25) algorithm and strategically and programmatically adapts the algorithm (e.g., an adaptive incident prioritization model) to rank security incidents based on a local security incident relevance metric (an adaptation of Term Frequency - TF - in BM25) and a global security incident rarity metric (an adaptation of Inverse Document Frequency - IDF - in BM25) associated with security incidents. A prioritization score for a security incident is calculated based on aggregating weighted frequencies of security incident ranking components (e.g., security incident metadata) within a security incident to determine an overall significance of the security incident.