Automated Network Asset Compliance Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network management systems require labor-intensive manual processes to identify and bring IT assets into compliance, often ignoring newly added assets and systems, leading to inefficient management.

Innovation Solution

An automated system that monitors networks, identifies unmanaged assets, determines access protocols, and applies compliance policies to ensure assets adhere to specified policies, using a management application with modules for communication, asset tracking, access, and compliance management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual inspection and cataloging processes are used to manage IT assets, then compliance with policies can be achieved, but the process becomes labor-intensive and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance with policiesVSAvoidmanagement efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-service management where the network management application automatically discovers assets, identifies compliance issues, and applies remediation without human intervention. The system monitors networks continuously and autonomously brings assets into compliance with policies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection processes with automated electronic monitoring and analysis. The network management application uses automated scanning and protocol analysis to discover assets and assess compliance, substituting human labor with computational processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Extent of automation

If software management applications are used to manage IT assets, then some automation is achieved, but newly added assets and networks are ignored and not managed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of compliance managementVSAvoiddetection of new assets

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where the network management application constantly monitors networks for new assets. When changes are detected, the system automatically re-scans and updates its asset inventory, ensuring newly added assets are immediately identified and managed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary scanning and asset discovery actions continuously in the background before compliance issues arise. By maintaining an up-to-date inventory through proactive monitoring, the system is prepared to manage new assets as soon as they are added to the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7840665B1Systems and methods for providing automated network management

Publication Date: 2010.11.23 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

A system and method for providing automated network management is provided. At least one network is monitored for one or more assets. At least one unmanaged asset is identified from the one or more assets. One or more access protocols associated with the at least one unmanaged asset are determined. The at least one unmanaged asset is accessed based on the one or more access protocols. At least one compliance policy is automatically applied to the at least one unmanaged asset.