Network Security Configuration Visualization System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of modern computer networks makes it difficult for network administrators to reliably assess and ensure that the security configuration accurately implements the defined security policy, often leading to unintended access to sensitive information.
Innovation Solution
A computing device is configured to receive firewall configurations, generate standardized configurations, monitor network traffic, and create a visual representation of the network security configuration, allowing administrators to easily identify defects and modify settings to align with the security policy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network administrators manually configure security policies across multiple devices, then security policy implementation is attempted, but the complexity of modern networks makes it impossible to reliably verify that the configuration accurately implements the defined security policy
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy or model of the network security configuration that can be analyzed separately from the actual network devices. This model allows administrators to verify security policy implementation without directly manipulating the complex live network configuration, thereby maintaining reliability while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary analysis system that sits between the security policy definitions and the network configuration implementation. This intermediary automatically analyzes the configuration data and provides feedback on whether the security policy is correctly implemented, resolving the contradiction by automating the verification process rather than relying on manual configuration.
2Measurement precision
If detailed security configuration analysis is performed on all network devices, then security defects can be detected, but the volume and complexity of information overwhelms the user and makes it difficult to identify specific defects
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the most relevant security configuration information and specific defects from the overwhelming volume of network data. Rather than presenting all configuration details, it isolates and highlights only those elements that are problematic or non-compliant with security policies, making it easy for users to identify and remediate specific issues without being overwhelmed by comprehensive but undifferentiated data.
Solution Approach 2:
The analysis system applies different levels of detail and presentation to different parts of the security configuration based on their relevance. Critical security defects receive prominent, detailed presentation while non-critical or compliant configurations are summarized or omitted, allowing users to focus their attention on the specific local areas that require action rather than uniformly presenting all information at the same level of detail.
3Reliability
If comprehensive monitoring of network traffic and configuration is implemented, then security defects can be detected, but the system complexity and resources required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements monitoring and analysis focused on the specific security policy requirements rather than comprehensively monitoring all network traffic and configurations equally. It performs analysis only on the extent necessary to verify security policy implementation, avoiding the excessive complexity of full-spectrum monitoring while maintaining sufficient reliability for security defect detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device is configured to retrieve network security configuration information from a computer network and generate a security configuration map which readily enables a user to detect defects in the security configuration with respect to a security policy. The computing device retrieves firewall configurations from security appliances in the network which operate firewalls, and processes the firewall configurations to generate a set of corresponding standardized firewall configurations. These are processed to identify enclaves containing network nodes which are associated with respective security sensitivity values based on the security policy. The computing device monitors and detects inter-node network traffic. The computing device generates a map representing the network nodes and security appliances, the security enclaves, the respective security sensitivity values, and the network traffic flows, thereby rendering readily visible inconsistencies between the actual security configuration and traffic flows, and the security policy.