Automated Compliance Module for Computer System Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual implementation of best practices in computer systems is time-consuming and prone to delays, leading to increased downtime and potential non-compliance with updated practices, as system administrators may not be aware of unapplied best practices or drifts from compliance.
Innovation Solution
A compliance module that systematically checks and enforces computer system operational parameters against target settings, alerting administrators and automatically bringing systems into compliance by querying and updating settings from remote sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual implementation of best practices is used, then system administrators can implement best practices, but implementation time increases and system downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compliance module automatically queries computer systems for current settings, determines compliance status, and sends commands to change settings without human intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously monitoring and enforcing best practices compliance, eliminating the need for manual administrator intervention while maintaining high compliance standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of reading documents and adjusting settings with an automated electronic compliance module that queries systems, evaluates compliance, and enforces settings through automated commands. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated electronic processes dramatically reduces implementation time while maintaining compliance reliability.
2Loss of information
If manual monitoring of best practices is used, then administrators can check compliance, but administrators may not be aware of updated best practices or compliance drift
Solution Approach 1:
The compliance module continuously queries computer systems for current operational parameters and compares them against target settings from best practices. It provides feedback by determining compliance status and automatically sending commands to correct non-compliant settings. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures administrators are always aware of compliance status and best practices updates without manual monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The compliance module serves multiple functions: it retrieves best practices from remote sources, queries computer systems for current settings, determines compliance status, and enforces corrections. This multi-functional automated system replaces multiple manual tasks (monitoring, comparing, detecting drift, and correcting), reducing information loss while managing complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation of separate systems.
3Productivity
If automated compliance checking is implemented, then compliance monitoring is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compliance module autonomously performs all compliance checking operations without requiring complex external management systems. It self-manages retrieving best practices, querying computer systems, evaluating compliance, and enforcing corrections. This self-service capability increases productivity while minimizing the complexity of external compliance management infrastructure.
4Reliability
If manual adjustment of operational parameters is used, then administrators can change settings, but implementation delays occur and systems may drift from compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The compliance module continuously queries computer systems for current operational parameters and continuously enforces compliance by comparing against target settings and automatically sending correction commands. This continuous automated action eliminates gaps where compliance drift could occur, maintaining reliability without delay while the system operates continuously to detect and correct deviations immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects compliance drift and self-corrects by sending commands to change operational parameters without waiting for manual administrator intervention. This self-service correction mechanism eliminates the time delay inherent in manual processes while maintaining continuous compliance, directly addressing the issue of compliance maintenance speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for maintaining computer systems in compliance with best practices. A configuration data set is received specifying a plurality of operational parameters, and, for each operational parameter, a target setting for the operational parameter. For each operational parameter of the plurality of operational parameters: a computer system is queried for a current setting of the operational parameter on the computer system; it is determined whether the current setting of the operational parameter complies with the target setting for the operational parameter; and a command is sent to the computer system to change the current setting of the operational parameter on the computer system to conform with the target setting for the operational parameter.