Network Security Control via MAC Validation and Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise networks face challenges in securely managing access and identifying suspicious activities by unauthorized devices, particularly in wearable computing devices, which can lead to potential breaches of classified information.
Innovation Solution
A network security system that detects and validates computing devices by comparing their MAC addresses with a database, monitors for suspicious activities, determines device location using indoor location technology, and disables unauthorized devices while alerting security personnel if the user cannot be identified.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the network allows free access to computing devices, then network usability and accessibility are improved, but network security and protection against unauthorized access deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of computing devices by comparing MAC addresses against a database of authorized devices before allowing network access. This preventive measure ensures that only pre-approved devices can connect to the network, maintaining security while enabling smooth access for authorized users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors network traffic and provides feedback by detecting suspicious activities such as unauthorized access attempts, data exfiltration, or malicious communications. When suspicious behavior is detected, the system responds by disabling the offending device and alerting security personnel, creating a closed-loop security mechanism.
2Reliability
If the network implements strict security validation, then network security is improved, but network access speed and user convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Device validation is performed in advance by comparing MAC addresses against an authorized database before network access is granted. This one-time preliminary check establishes security credentials upfront, allowing subsequent network operations to proceed without repeated validation delays, thus maintaining both security and efficiency.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the network monitors all device activities, then detection of suspicious activities is improved, but system complexity and processing overhead deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and focuses monitoring efforts on specific suspicious activities such as unauthorized access attempts, unusual data transfer patterns, or communications with known malicious addresses. By concentrating detection resources on targeted indicators rather than analyzing all network traffic equally, the system achieves effective threat detection without excessive complexity or processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device detects that another computing device has connected to a network. The computing device determines whether the other computing device is valid and whether the computing device is being utilized for one or more suspicious activities. Based on determining that the other computing device is being utilized for one or more suspicious activities, the computing device determines a location of the other computing device, determines whether a user associated with the other computing device can be identified, and based on determining that the user associated with the other computing device cannot be identified, disables the other computing device, and transmits an alert to security personnel.