Microservice Deployment Factory for Virtual Network Security Scaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cloud computing services face challenges in efficiently handling increasing amounts of network traffic due to the expansion of cloud computing services, requiring effective management of security microservices to ensure data security and monitoring within virtual networks.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented to manage the addition of security microservices in a scalable, stateless microservice security system by utilizing a deployment factory that selects suitable hosts based on resource utilization histories and initializes interface microservices as needed, allowing for efficient deployment and scaling of security microservices to handle network traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cloud computing services expand to handle more network traffic, then network traffic volume increases, but security microservice processing capacity becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork traffic volumeVSAvoidsecurity microservice processing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically scales security microservices based on real-time traffic conditions. The deployment factory continuously monitors network traffic volume and automatically provisions additional security microservice instances when traffic exceeds processing capacity, ensuring security processing capacity adapts dynamically to varying traffic loads without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the number of active security microservice instances based on traffic volume. When network traffic increases, the deployment factory modifies system parameters by deploying additional microservice instances with appropriate resource allocations, transforming the static security capacity into a variable parameter that responds to traffic conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If additional security microservices are deployed to handle increased traffic, then security processing capacity improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity microservice processing capacityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deployment factory acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of deploying and coordinating multiple security microservices. It handles service registration, resource allocation, and inter-service communication automatically, shielding users from the complexity of managing scaled microservices while enabling seamless expansion of security processing capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The deployment factory provides universal functionality by handling multiple aspects of microservice deployment simultaneously - resource provisioning, service registration, configuration management, and coordination. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity management into a single system component rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each deployment aspect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If more hardware resources are allocated to security microservices, then processing capacity increases, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity microservice processing capacityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts resource allocation to security microservices based on actual traffic demands. The deployment factory monitors resource utilization metrics and scales microservice instances up or down accordingly, ensuring that hardware resources are efficiently utilized only when needed rather than being statically over-provisioned, thereby maintaining high resource utilization efficiency while providing adequate processing capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The deployment factory implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring resource utilization and processing capacity metrics. Based on this feedback, it automatically adjusts the number and resource allocation of security microservice instances, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes resource utilization efficiency while maintaining adequate security processing capacity in response to actual system conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3563236B1Systems and methods for adding microservices into existing system environments
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 FORTINET INC
  • EP3563236B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3563236B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3563236B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to network security within a virtual network, and how to add microservices in a scalable virtual network. For example, one embodiment discloses a method of receiving a deployment request to deploy a security microservice in a security service, the deployment request including a deployment specification. The method further includes determining whether an interface microservice is available on one or more hosts by accessing one or more host records for the one or more hosts, and selecting a host on which to deploy the security microservice utilizing the deployment specification. When the interface microservice does not exist on the selected host, the method further includes initializing the interface microservice on the selected host, attaching the interface microservice to a hypervisor of the selected host, connecting the security microservice to the interface microservice of the selected host, and deploying the security microservice on the selected host.