Backup Machine Scanning Snapshot Images for Vulnerability Remediation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Patch management systems face engineering complexity and operational burdens due to the need for software agents in heterogeneous software environments, making it challenging to remediate software vulnerabilities without deploying agents on production machines.
Innovation Solution
A backup machine identifies and remediates software vulnerabilities by processing snapshot images stored in a database, eliminating the need for software agents on production machines by retrieving, analyzing, and pushing patches directly from the backup machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software agents are deployed in each node of software systems to enable standard communications protocol, then communication standardization is improved, but engineering complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vulnerability scanning function from the production environment by analyzing snapshot images stored in the database. This removes the need for software agents to be deployed on production machines, eliminating the engineering complexity while maintaining the ability to standardize communications through the backup machine's analysis capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The backup machine serves as an intermediary between the database and vulnerability analysis. It retrieves snapshot images from the database, processes them to identify vulnerabilities, and pushes patch information to production machines. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for agents on production machines while maintaining standardized vulnerability management
2Reliability
If software agents are deployed on production machines for vulnerability remediation, then vulnerability detection capability is improved, but operational burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing snapshot images of production machines and storing them in the database before vulnerability analysis is needed. When vulnerability scanning is required, the backup machine retrieves and analyzes these pre-captured snapshots, eliminating the need for continuous agent-based monitoring and reducing operational burden
Solution Approach 2:
The backup machine performs self-service by autonomously retrieving snapshot images from the database, analyzing them for vulnerabilities using its own processing capabilities, and pushing patch information to production machines. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual agent management and reduces operational burden
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to identify a software vulnerability are described. The system receives a message identifying a software vulnerability. The system identifies snapshot images taken of a production machine and stored in a database. The snapshot images include a snapshot image including a virtual machine. The snapshot images are identified being based on the message. The system identifies whether the snapshot images include the software vulnerability. The system registers the software vulnerability in association with a snapshot image in the database responsive to the identification of the snapshot image of the virtual machine including the software vulnerability.