DNS Server Dynamic VPN Profile Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional VPNs lack smart logic for dynamic profile switching at runtime, leading to inefficiencies in split tunneling, load balancing, and authentication management, especially in enterprise networks with multiple cloud-based services.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a policy-based dynamic VPN profile selection system using the DNS protocol, which involves a DNS server receiving a request, determining the necessary IP address and authentication token, and sending a response with the VPN gateway IP address and authentication token, facilitating split tunneling and load balancing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional VPNs are used without dynamic profile selection, then system simplicity is maintained, but split tunneling efficiency and load balancing capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a DNS server as an intermediary between the client and VPN gateways. The DNS server receives DNS requests from clients, determines the appropriate VPN profile based on policies, and returns the corresponding VPN gateway address. This intermediary approach enables dynamic profile selection without requiring complex client-side logic, thereby improving split tunneling efficiency while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures multiple VPN profiles and policies on the DNS server before runtime. When a DNS request arrives, the DNS server already has the necessary information to quickly determine the appropriate VPN profile based on the domain name and predefined policies. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for real-time complex decision-making at the client side, improving efficiency without adding operational complexity.
2Productivity
If static VPN profiles are used, then authentication management is simplified, but load balancing across VPN gateways deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic VPN profile selection based on DNS requests. Instead of using static VPN profiles, the system dynamically determines which VPN gateway to use for each DNS request based on the domain name and current policy conditions. This dynamic approach enables automatic load balancing across multiple VPN gateways while the DNS server centrally manages authentication tokens, maintaining ease of operation through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of VPN gateway selection from static to dynamic based on DNS query parameters. The DNS server extracts information from the domain name and uses it to select different VPN gateways, effectively implementing load balancing. Authentication tokens are also dynamically issued by the DNS server based on the selected profile, maintaining simplified authentication management through centralized token distribution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual VPN profile switching is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but runtime adaptability and authentication management efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The DNS server acts as an intermediary that handles all VPN profile selection logic and authentication token management. The client simply sends DNS requests and receives responses with the appropriate VPN gateway address and authentication token. This eliminates the need for complex client-side VPN management while providing runtime adaptability through policy-based automated profile selection based on domain names.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for policy-based dynamic VPN profile selection using DNS protocol are provided. In some embodiments, a system/process/computer program product for policy-based dynamic VPN profile selection using DNS protocol includes receiving, at a DNS server for an enterprise network, a Domain Name System (DNS) request for a resource from an endpoint client; determining an IP address and an authentication token for the endpoint client to access the resource using a secure tunnel; and sending a DNS response, from the DNS server, including the IP address and the authentication token to the endpoint client.