Edge Networking Agents Using Synchronized User Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endpoint-based security solutions for network security are complex, costly, and inflexible, and VPN implementations lead to inefficient information flow routing, while edge device implementations face challenges due to non-portability and diverse device types.
Innovation Solution
Implementing active agents on edge devices using user profiles that are deployed flexibly and synchronized from a secure cloud, enabling secure networking and connectivity with continuous risk assessment, authentication, encryption, and management of information flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active agents are implemented on endpoint devices, then security monitoring and management can be performed directly at the source, but the complexity of installing, updating and supporting software on each endpoint device increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The active agent functionality is extracted from endpoint devices and relocated to cloud-based virtual machines. The cloud-based active agent receives data from endpoint devices and performs security monitoring functions remotely, eliminating the need to install and maintain software on each endpoint device while maintaining security monitoring capabilities.
2Reliability
If VPNs are used to provide secure access, then information flows can be encrypted and routed securely, but the routing efficiency deteriorates and software or configuration must still be placed on endpoint devices
Solution Approach 1:
A cloud-based active agent acts as an intermediary between endpoint devices and network destinations. It receives data from endpoint devices, performs security functions, and forwards data to destinations without requiring endpoint devices to establish complex VPN connections, thereby improving routing efficiency while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The security function is moved from the network layer (VPN routing) to the application layer (cloud-based active agent). This dimensional shift allows security processing to occur at the cloud edge rather than through network-wide VPN routing, improving overall system efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If active agents are implemented on edge devices, then deployment flexibility and privacy are improved, but technical challenges arise due to non-portability and diverse device types
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses cloud-based virtual machines that can be deployed across multiple edge device types and locations. This universal approach allows the active agent functionality to be implemented on diverse hardware platforms without being tied to specific device types, solving the compatibility problem while maintaining deployment flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically provisions and manages cloud-based virtual machines on edge devices as needed. Rather than requiring fixed configurations on specific hardware, the system can dynamically allocate resources and deploy active agents on any suitable edge device, enhancing adaptability while reducing compatibility constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
There is described devices, systems, and methods for providing enhanced, secure networking and connectivity from edge infrastructure. The devices, systems and methods provide edge device capabilities that establish secure communication between one or more endpoint devices of a user and one or more network destinations. The capabilities include the use of distributed and synchronized user profiles associated with the user. The user profiles contain a plurality of networking parameters and metadata associated with the one or more endpoint devices and the one or more network destinations. The capabilities also include instantiating and configuring an active agent using information associated with the user profile to monitor and manage information flows to and from the one or more endpoint devices using information associated with the user profile.