Cloud Wi-Fi Security Scanning for Vulnerability Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public Wi-Fi hotspots pose security risks as users cannot distinguish between secure and insecure networks, leading to potential data interception and lack of productivity due to the need for VPNs that are slow and not scalable on low-powered devices.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based security system assesses Wi-Fi network vulnerabilities by combining static and dynamic analyses to provide security risk scores, enabling policies such as preventing connections to insecure networks or requiring secure tunnels, thus protecting user equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots to access Internet freely, then ease of operation is improved, but security reliability deteriorates due to potential data interception
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary vulnerability assessment and security scanning of Wi-Fi networks before users connect. The cloud-based system pre-evaluates network security characteristics, identifies potential threats, and prepares security policies in advance, allowing users to connect safely without real-time delays.
Solution Approach 2:
A cloud-based security system acts as an intermediary between users and public Wi-Fi networks. It mediates the connection by assessing network vulnerability, enforcing security policies, and protecting user data without preventing legitimate Internet access. The intermediary provides security services transparently in the background.
2Reliability
If users deploy VPN to encrypt traffic for security, then security reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to slow performance and device power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the computationally intensive security processing functions from user devices and relocates them to a cloud-based system. The cloud infrastructure performs vulnerability assessment, threat detection, and security policy enforcement, freeing mobile devices from heavy computational loads while maintaining strong security protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts security measures based on network vulnerability assessments. Instead of always applying full VPN encryption, the system adapts security parameters according to actual threats detected, reducing unnecessary computational overhead on devices while maintaining protection against identified risks.
3Reliability
If enterprises disable Wi-Fi access on devices for security, then security reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to inability to access Internet
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic security policies that adapt based on network context and user behavior. Instead of static Wi-Fi disabling, the system continuously assesses network vulnerability and adjusts access permissions in real-time, allowing employees to access Internet on secure networks while blocking threats, thus maintaining both security and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based system provides continuous feedback to enterprises about network security status and user connection safety. Enterprises receive real-time information about which networks are safe for employees to access, enabling informed decisions about Wi-Fi usage without completely disabling access, thereby maintaining productivity while ensuring security.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of assessing Wi-Fi network vulnerability and enforcing policy based thereon in a cloud-based security system include obtaining and storing security risk scores for a plurality of Wi-Fi networks based in part on analysis performed by user equipment in range of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi networks; detecting user equipment associated with the cloud-based security system either desiring to connect to or already connected to a Wi-Fi network; obtaining a security risk score of the Wi-Fi network; and enforcing policy for the user equipment based on the obtained security risk score of the Wi-Fi network.