Automated Cybersecurity Assessment with Hygiene and Breach Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cybersecurity assessment methods are manual, time-consuming, and costly, making it difficult for entities to comply with standards like CMMC, leading to delayed risk mitigation and inaccurate cyber-insurance pricing, with ongoing security holes remaining undetected for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
An automated cybersecurity assessment system using hardware processors to calculate cyber-hygiene and breach scores through tests like inside-out, outside-in, and social-engineering simulations, providing a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment for compliance, certification, and risk management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual cybersecurity assessment methods are used, then entities can perform compliance checks, but the process becomes laborious, time-consuming, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment processes with automated computer-based systems that perform cybersecurity assessments through software agents, eliminating the need for manual review of cybersecurity controls and significantly reducing assessment time while maintaining or improving accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables entities to self-assess their cybersecurity compliance status through automated tools that independently evaluate controls, generate reports, and identify gaps without requiring external manual intervention, thereby reducing both time and cost while improving consistency
2Reliability
If manual cybersecurity assessment is performed, then compliance can be checked, but proper cyber-risk mitigation is not timely achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated cybersecurity monitoring and assessment that operates continuously rather than periodically, enabling real-time detection of compliance gaps and security vulnerabilities, which allows immediate risk mitigation actions to be taken rather than waiting for manual assessment cycles
Solution Approach 2:
Automated computer-based systems replace slow manual assessment processes with high-speed electronic evaluation of cybersecurity controls, enabling rapid identification and remediation of risks while maintaining reliable compliance verification
3Reliability
If automated cybersecurity testing is implemented continuously, then security holes can be timely detected, but the cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies risk-based prioritization where automated testing resources are allocated proportionally to the criticality of different cybersecurity controls and systems, performing comprehensive testing on high-risk areas while using lighter assessment methods for lower-risk areas, thereby achieving effective security detection at reduced cost
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces expensive manual penetration testing and security audits with cost-effective automated software-based assessment tools that provide continuous monitoring and vulnerability detection at a fraction of the cost of traditional manual security testing services
4Reliability
If comprehensive cybersecurity controls are implemented, then security posture improves, but the complexity of implementation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual processes for implementing and tracking numerous cybersecurity controls with automated software agents that systematically configure, monitor, and report on control implementation status, reducing the operational complexity while maintaining comprehensive security coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal automated assessment platform that can evaluate multiple cybersecurity frameworks and standards (such as NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS) through a single integrated system, reducing implementation complexity by providing multi-functional assessment capabilities rather than requiring separate tools for each standard
Data Source
AI summary
Automated and continuous cybersecurity assessment with measurement and scoring. In an embodiment, a cyber-hygiene score is calculated based on data representing asserted cybersecurity controls within an entity system. The cyber-hygiene score indicates an extent of implementation of cybersecurity controls associated with a cybersecurity standard. In addition, automated cybersecurity test(s) are performed on the entity system, and a cyber-breach score is calculated based on the test scores calculated from the automated cybersecurity test(s). The cyber-breach score indicates an effectiveness of the implemented cybersecurity controls. The automated cybersecurity test(s) may comprise an inside-out controls test, and outside-in controls test, and/or a social-engineering test (e.g., phishing simulation). A cybersecurity assessment is generated based on the cyber-hygiene score and the cyber-breach score.