Data Exfiltration Risk Management via File Metadata Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies fail to effectively manage data exfiltration risk in computer networks, particularly from insiders, as they often require substantial processing resources and do not provide timely alerts or prevention mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based method and system that collects file management and user activity information, correlates this data to assess exfiltration risk, and includes a file interceptor, session-monitoring agents, a history and exfiltration tracker, and a rules engine to detect and respond to potential data exfiltration attempts without considering file content, enabling immediate alerts and action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional data exfiltration detection methods are used, then data security monitoring is provided, but substantial processing resources are required and timely alerts are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the data exfiltration detection process into multiple independent components: file interceptor for capturing file operations, session-monitoring agents for tracking user activities, history and exfiltration tracker for correlating events, and rules engine for risk assessment. Each component processes specific types of data independently, reducing the processing burden on any single system and enabling scalable deployment that consumes fewer overall processing resources while maintaining detection reliability.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive file monitoring is implemented, then data exfiltration risk is detected, but processing time increases and real-time alerts are delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing file baselines, pre-defining exfiltration rules and policies, and pre-positioning session-monitoring agents on user devices. When a file operation occurs, the system immediately compares it against pre-established baselines and rules, enabling real-time risk assessment without the delay of analyzing file content or performing complex computations during the actual exfiltration event.
Solution Approach 2:
The history and exfiltration tracker serves as an intermediary component that correlates file operation data with user session activity data. Instead of directly analyzing all raw data, this intermediary component synthesizes information from multiple sources and presents processed risk indicators to the rules engine, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
3Reliability
If file content analysis is performed to assess exfiltration risk, then accurate risk assessment is achieved, but processing resources and time requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential metadata and behavioral characteristics from file operations and user activities, such as file access patterns, modification times, user session duration, and operation sequences. By taking out only these critical indicators rather than analyzing complete file contents, the system achieves sufficient risk assessment accuracy while dramatically improving processing efficiency and reducing resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters being monitored from file content attributes to file operation metadata and user behavior patterns. Instead of analyzing what files contain, the system monitors how files are accessed, modified, and transferred, combined with user session context. This parameter transformation enables accurate exfiltration detection using lightweight data that requires minimal processing resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-based method is disclosed to facilitate managing data exfiltration risk in a computer network environment. The method includes collecting computer file management information associated with each respective one of a plurality of computer files in an organization's computer network environment from a computer operating system, collecting user activity information associated with each respective one of a plurality of user sessions by users having access to the organization's computer network environment with a plurality of session monitoring agents, correlating at least some of the collected user activity information to one or more of the computer files associated with the collected file management information; and assessing data exfiltration risk with respect to one or more of the computer files based at least in part on some of the file management information and the correlated user activity information associated with a file history chain.