Network Security Coordination for Authentication Risk Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network security systems lack effective coordination to identify and mitigate security risks across different authentication methods used by user devices and network services, leading to potential exposure to spoofing and phishing threats.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing machine learning applications to analyze network and device security information across a communication network, identifying security risks and recommending alternative authentication methods with lower risks, and transmitting notifications to user devices and network devices to cease using compromised methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple authentication methods are used across different services, then user convenience and service accessibility are improved, but security risk exposure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors authentication methods across multiple services and provides feedback notifications to users when security risks are detected. The notification system alerts users to stop using compromised authentication methods and switch to alternative methods, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that maintains both accessibility and security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary security monitoring system that sits between users and multiple authentication methods. This intermediary analyzes authentication requests across different services, identifies compromised methods, and mediates by notifying users to switch to safer alternatives, thereby protecting users without eliminating convenient access methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If individual web servers protect their own authentication methods independently, then each service's security is maintained, but coordinated security response across the network is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual service securityVSAvoidcoordinated security response

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges individual service security monitoring into a unified network-wide security system. By combining security information from multiple independent services, the system achieves coordinated response capabilities while maintaining the reliability of individual service protections. The consolidated view enables cross-service security analysis and coordinated notification delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The security monitoring system performs multiple functions: it monitors individual service authentication methods, analyzes network-wide security patterns, identifies compromised methods across any service, and delivers coordinated notifications. This multi-functional approach enables both individual service protection and network-wide coordinated response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If security monitoring is performed across multiple authentication methods, then security risk identification is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity risk identificationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments security monitoring into modular components: authentication method identification, security information collection, risk analysis, and notification delivery. Each component handles a specific aspect of security monitoring independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring precision across multiple authentication methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11412004B2Methods, systems, and devices coordinating security among different network devices

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying from a user device, authentication methods associated with services, obtaining network security information and identifying device security information for the authentication methods. Further embodiments include, in response to analyzing the network security information and the device security information: determining a first security risk for a first authentication method; and identifying a second authentication method with a second security risk lower than the first security risk. Additional embodiments include transmitting a notification to the user device indicating not to utilize the first authentication method based on the first security risk and to utilize the second authentication method, and transmitting a notification to network devices indicating the first security risk associated with the first authentication method. Each network device transmits to a group of user devices a notification indicating to cease utilizing the first authentication method. Other embodiments are disclosed.