Network Security Policy Mediation via Generic Translation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Converged networks with different security policies lack a systematic way to enforce consistent security, leading to security holes due to incompatibility and the difficulty in scaling security policies across multiple networks, with each network having its own specific security mechanisms that are not directly transportable or enforceable across others.
Innovation Solution
A rule-based security policy translator converts network-specific policies into generic policies, which are then translated into executable modules for target networks using a security policy mediation device, enabling end-to-end consistent security policy enforcement across diverse networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network-specific security policies are enforced on each network, then security is maintained within individual networks, but security holes are created in end-to-end converged networks due to incompatibility between different security policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a security policy mediation device that acts as an intermediary between networks with different security policies. This mediator translates and mediates security policies from one network to another, enabling compatibility without requiring changes to the original network-specific policies. The mediation device resolves the contradiction by providing a bridging layer that maintains both the original security enforcement and the adaptability across heterogeneous networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms security policies by changing their representation parameters. Security policies are converted into a standardized intermediate format that can be universally understood across different networks. This parameter transformation allows the same security intent to be expressed in terms compatible with different network architectures, resolving the incompatibility issue while maintaining security enforcement.
2Reliability
If one-to-one mapping between two networks with different security policies is hard-coded, then security compatibility is achieved between those two specific networks, but the approach becomes effort-intensive, costly, and difficult to scale to multiple networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal security policy mediation framework that can handle multiple networks simultaneously. Instead of requiring separate hard-coded mappings for each network pair, the mediation device provides a single universal interface that can translate between any combination of networks. This universal approach reduces complexity from O(n²) pairwise mappings to a single O(n) mediation layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses policy translation templates and rule sets that can be copied and adapted for different network combinations. Rather than creating unique mappings for each network pair, standardized policy translation rules are developed once and then applied across multiple network interfaces, significantly reducing the effort and cost of implementing security compatibility across many networks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If network security policies are made network-specific with local implementations, then each network maintains its own security mechanisms, but these policies cannot be directly transported or enforced at different networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments security policies into distinct, modular components that can be independently translated and enforced. By breaking down monolithic network-specific policies into smaller functional units (such as authentication mechanisms, encryption requirements, access control rules), each segment can be independently mapped to equivalent functions in other networks, improving portability while maintaining network autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The mediation device serves as an intermediary that receives network-specific security policies, translates them into a universal intermediate representation, and then enforces them at the target network. This intermediary layer preserves the autonomy of each network to define its own policies while enabling those policies to be operationally enforced across network boundaries through automated translation and adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for mediating between first and second network security policies, by: (1) mapping a first security policy to a generic second security policy, and (2) mapping the generic second security policy to a plurality of rules each associated with a target network security policy.