Decoy Production Network Deployment for Adversary Behavior Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Protected network environments face continuous unauthorized access attempts, where adversaries gain access and subsequent removal prevents observation of their behavior, limiting effective defense strategies.
Innovation Solution
Automated deployment of decoy production networks that replicate actual network features, allowing adversaries to execute actions in a decoy environment, which are monitored for behavioral analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unauthorized users are removed from the network upon detection, then network security is maintained, but the ability to observe and analyze adversary behavior is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a decoy production network as an intermediary between the actual production network and the unauthorized user. When an unauthorized user is detected in the actual network, they are redirected to the decoy network instead of being completely removed. This intermediary decoy network allows the system to observe and analyze adversary behavior while maintaining security of the actual network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the production network environment (the decoy production network) that replicates network structures, services, and resources. This copy allows unauthorized users to execute their malicious actions in a simulated environment, enabling behavioral analysis without compromising the actual network. The decoy network is configured to appear identical to the real network to the unauthorized user.
2Loss of information
If a decoy production network is deployed to observe unauthorized user behavior, then adversary intelligence is gathered, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into distinct environments: the actual production network and the decoy production network. This segmentation allows the decoy network to be isolated and managed separately, containing the complexity in a dedicated zone rather than throughout the entire network. The decoy network can be deployed as a separate infrastructure that handles unauthorized users independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoy production network is designed to be disposable or easily replaceable. When the decoy network has served its purpose of gathering adversary intelligence, it can be discarded or reset without affecting the actual production network. This approach contains the complexity management, as the decoy network can be regenerated as needed without permanent structural changes to the main network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual deployment of decoy networks is used, then customization is possible, but deployment time and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated deployment mechanisms that prepare and deploy the decoy production network in advance based on templates and configurations. The system can automatically provision the decoy network infrastructure, configure network elements, and establish connections without manual intervention. This preliminary automation reduces deployment time while maintaining the ability to customize decoy network characteristics through configuration parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter-based configuration to enable customization of the decoy network. Instead of manual deployment, the system allows modification of parameters such as network topology, resource allocation, service configurations, and environmental characteristics. These parameter changes enable the decoy network to be tailored to specific scenarios while maintaining automated deployment, thus reducing time investment.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for automated deployment of decoy production networks. Example methods may include detecting, by one or more computer processors coupled to memory, an unauthorized user in a production network environment, determining a payload associated with the unauthorized user, where the payload includes at least one of a computer-executable payload or a data payload that the unauthorized user is attempting to transfer to the production network environment, and initiating a first virtual decoy production network environment. Methods may include causing the computer-executable payload to be executed in the first virtual decoy production network environment, and recording telemetry data associated with execution of the computer-executable payload in the first virtual decoy production network environment.