File System Object Risk Assessment via Depth and Access Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organizations face challenges in determining the actual risk of data exposure in file systems, as existing methods rely on content categorization, which is not effective in identifying potential security breaches in real-time, especially with varying information handling systems and user access permissions.
Innovation Solution
A method that monitors file systems for risk-assessment events and determines a content-independent risk of exposure for file-system objects based on their depth in the file system and the set of users who can access them, using a combination of security settings, access analysis, and metadata, enabling real-time security auditing and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If content categorization methods are used to secure sensitive data, then data segregation and permission assignment are improved, but the ability to perform real-time analysis of actual exposure risk deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the risk assessment into multiple independent components: file system object identification, depth calculation, user access analysis, and risk scoring. Each component processes specific attributes separately and combines results to generate comprehensive risk assessments, enabling real-time analysis without requiring full content categorization of all files.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary risk assessment system that sits between the file system and users. This intermediary monitors file access patterns, calculates exposure risk based on file system object attributes (depth, permissions, user sets), and provides real-time risk information without requiring direct content analysis of protected files, thus maintaining security while enabling risk visibility.
2Reliability
If traditional security methods with content categorization are used, then data protection policies are established, but the complexity of monitoring and assessing actual exposure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the risk assessment function from content-based security systems. Instead of analyzing file contents to determine risk, the system extracts and analyzes only metadata attributes such as file system object depth, permission settings, and user access patterns. This extraction simplifies the monitoring system by removing the need for complex content analysis while maintaining protective capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for security assessment from content-based attributes to structure-based attributes. Rather than categorizing files by their content sensitivity, the system uses file system object depth, permission bit settings, and user set compositions as parameters. This parameter transformation reduces monitoring complexity while providing actionable risk insights.
3Reliability
If content-based security categorization is implemented, then sensitive data is identified and protected, but the system cannot determine actual exposure risk in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic risk assessment that continuously updates exposure risk measurements based on current file system state. The system calculates real-time risk scores by dynamically analyzing the intersection of user access sets, file system object depths, and permission configurations. This dynamic approach provides precise, up-to-date exposure risk measurements rather than static content-based categorizations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where risk assessment results are continuously generated and fed back to security administrators. The system monitors file access events, recalculates exposure risk based on current user permissions and file system structure, and provides feedback on actual risk levels. This feedback mechanism enables precise measurement of exposure risk by continuously comparing intended access patterns against actual file system configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method is performed by a computer system comprising computer hardware. The method includes monitoring a file system for risk-assessment events. The method further includes, responsive to a real-time determination of at least one risk-assessment event, determining a content-independent risk of exposure for a file-system object associated with the risk-assessment event. The determining of the content-independent risk of exposure is based, at least in part, on a depth of the file-system object in the file system and a set of users who can access the file-system object.