Real-Time Cyber Threat Detection via Behavioral Analytics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital security systems lack effective real-time detection mechanisms for anomalies indicative of malicious behavior within computing environments, failing to promptly identify and respond to cyber threats.

Innovation Solution

The method involves building entity probability models from real-time data and comparing them to population models to identify anomalous differences, alerting administrators and executing remediation actions, utilizing unsupervised machine learning to detect deviations in behavior over time or against a population baseline.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional digital security systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but real-time detection capability of cyber threats is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional rule-based and signature-based security mechanisms with machine learning models that automatically learn and adapt to detect cyber threats. The system uses trained models to analyze entity behavior patterns, substituting manual security configuration with automated intelligent detection, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity through algorithmic approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts detection parameters and thresholds based on learned behavior patterns from training data. By changing the parameters of the detection algorithm adaptively rather than using fixed thresholds, the system improves its ability to detect novel threats while maintaining operational flexibility, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If real-time entity probability models are built and compared to population models, then detection precision is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly detection precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary training of machine learning models offline using historical data before deployment. By pre-processing and training models in advance, the actual real-time detection requires only inference operations rather than full model training, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining high detection precision through pre-optimized models.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The detection process is segmented into distinct phases: offline model training, real-time feature extraction, and anomaly scoring. By dividing the computationally intensive training phase from the time-critical detection phase, the system achieves high precision through thorough model training while maintaining fast response times during actual threat detection operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive entity data is collected and analyzed, then detection accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and focuses on the most relevant features and attributes from comprehensive entity data that are most indicative of cyber threats. By selecting and extracting only the critical features needed for detection rather than processing all available data, the system maintains high detection accuracy while reducing processing complexity and storage requirements through targeted feature selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11386343B2Real time detection of cyber threats using behavioral analytics
Publication Date: 2022.07.12 ELASTICSEARCH BV
  • US11386343B2 patent drawing
  • US11386343B2 patent drawing
  • US11386343B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Real time detection of cyber threats using behavioral analytics is disclosed. An example method includes obtaining, in real time, attributes for an entity within a population of entities, the attributes being indicative of entity behavior; building an entity probability model using the attributes and associated values collected over a period of time; and establishing a control portion of the entity probability model associated with a portion of the period of time. The example method includes comparing any of the entity attribute values and the entity probability model for other portions of the period of time to the control portion to identify one or more anomalous differences, and executing a remediation action based thereon. Some embodiments include determining a set comprising the anomalous differences and additional anomalous differences for the entity or the entity's peer group, and calculating the set's overall probability to determine if the entity is malicious.