Cloud Exposure Correlation for Risk-Based Vulnerability Remediation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional security approaches and siloed on-premises security solutions are inadequate for securing cloud-native applications, generating excessive alerts and failing to provide reliable protection, especially in environments where the perimeter is extended beyond the traditional well-defined network.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based system that provides continuous automated risk assessment and security, using scoring algorithms to identify security risk events, calculate risk scores, and recommend remediations based on these scores, while integrating with infrastructure and applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional security approaches and siloed on-premises security solutions are used, then security coverage is provided, but excessive alerts are generated and reliability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity protection reliabilityVSAvoidexcessive alerts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple security functions (vulnerability scanning, risk assessment, remediation management) into a unified cloud-based security platform. This integration eliminates siloed operations and reduces alert redundancy by correlating data across different security layers, thereby reducing excessive alerts while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where security metrics, risk scores, and remediation outcomes are constantly monitored and used to adjust security policies and alert thresholds. This dynamic adjustment reduces false positives and excessive alerts while maintaining high reliability through adaptive security measures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If cloud-based continuous automated risk assessment is implemented, then security effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces cloud-based intermediary services that mediate between on-premises security infrastructure and security analytics. The cloud platform acts as an intermediary that consolidates complex risk assessment algorithms, scoring mechanisms, and remediation orchestration, reducing on-premises complexity while maintaining high security effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cloud-based security platform provides universal, multi-functional capabilities including vulnerability scanning, risk scoring, remediation generation, and compliance tracking across diverse cloud environments. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple specialized tools into a single system, managing complexity through standardized interfaces while delivering comprehensive security effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If remediation recommendations are provided based on risk scores, then security posture is improved, but implementation effort is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity postureVSAvoidremediation implementation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating remediation configurations, applying security patches, and enforcing policy changes based on risk scores. By automating these preliminary remediation actions, the system improves security posture while reducing the manual implementation effort required from operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service capabilities where the security system automatically identifies vulnerabilities, generates remediation recommendations, and executes fixes without requiring extensive manual intervention. This self-service approach improves security posture continuously while maintaining ease of operation through automated workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260067323A1Systems and Methods for Providing Efficient Remediations for Cloud Environment Vulnerabilities
Publication Date: 2026.03.05 ZSCALER INC
  • US20260067323A1 patent drawing
  • US20260067323A1 patent drawing
  • US20260067323A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are systems and methods for continuous exposure management across multiple cloud environments. Posture control data, including configuration, vulnerability, and identity activity information, is continuously collected and aggregated into a unified exposure dataset. A machine-learning correlation model analyzes the dataset to identify combinations of seemingly unrelated low-risk events that collectively form higher-risk exposure conditions. Each exposure condition is assigned a risk score, and potential remediation actions are evaluated using a remediation priority score based on the amount of risk mitigated and the relative remediation effort. Remediation actions are then prioritized to optimize overall risk reduction efficiency. The system continuously updates exposure data and prioritization as new information is received, enabling dynamic and scalable management of cloud security posture and reducing the operational burden of manual prioritization.