Network Connectivity Policy Translation Across Security Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manually configuring individual security devices in a network environment to implement connectivity policies is inefficient and complex due to vendor-specific syntax, especially as network complexity increases, and it is unclear which devices should be configured.
Innovation Solution
A network security system generates a network topology mapping and uses a universal syntax to represent connectivity policies, translating them into device-specific representations to configure security devices along identified paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If security devices are manually configured individually to implement connectivity policies, then device-specific connectivity control is achieved, but the configuration process becomes demanding and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized policy management system that acts as an intermediary between administrators and individual security devices. This system translates high-level connectivity policies into device-specific configurations automatically, eliminating manual device-by-device configuration while ensuring reliable policy implementation across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal policy representation that can be applied across multiple different security devices and network configurations. This universal approach allows a single connectivity policy to be enforced across diverse devices without requiring separate manual configuration for each device, significantly improving configuration efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If manually configured individual security devices are used to satisfy network connectivity policies, then device-level control is achieved, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-translating connectivity policies into device-specific configurations before deployment. The centralized system prepares all necessary device configurations in advance based on the desired connectivity policy, eliminating the need for administrators to manually configure each device and significantly reducing configuration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating and applying device configurations based on high-level policies. Once a connectivity policy is defined, the system autonomously translates it into appropriate device configurations and applies them across the network, freeing administrators from time-consuming manual configuration tasks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vendor-specific syntax is used for each security device, then device compatibility is achieved, but the configuration process becomes demanding and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a translation layer that acts as an intermediary between the universal policy representation and vendor-specific device syntax. This translation layer automatically converts the standardized policy format into the appropriate syntax for each specific security device, maintaining device compatibility while eliminating the complexity of dealing with multiple vendor-specific formats manually.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal policy representation that can be applied across devices from different vendors. This universal approach maintains adaptability to various device types while reducing configuration complexity, as administrators work with a single standardized format rather than learning multiple vendor-specific syntaxes.
Data Source
AI summary
A network security system implements connectivity policies of a network environment. The network security system may use a network topology mapping to implement connectivity policies, where the network topology mapping includes sets of security zones, security devices, and zone paths between the security zones via the one or more security devices. The network security system can generate a universal representation of a connectivity policy for the network environment using a universal syntax. Using the network topology mapping, the network security system can identify zone paths between the security zones for implementing the connectivity policy. The network security system can configure security devices along the zone paths in accordance with the connectivity policies. Configuring security devices may include converting some or all of the universal representation of the connectivity policy into a device-specific representation in a native syntax of the security device.