Deriving Outbound Security Policies from Inbound Rules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuring firewalls and IPsec tools to ensure consistent security policies is complex and prone to errors, leading to vulnerabilities in data security, particularly due to the complexity of IPsec terminology and the need for symmetric outbound and inbound security policies.
Innovation Solution
A security system that automatically derives an outbound security policy from an inbound security policy, using a user interface to define security rules that generate consistent firewall and connection rules, ensuring matching inbound and outbound security suites for computing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If security personnel manually configure firewall rules and IPsec rules separately, then they can implement security policies, but the configuration process becomes complex and error-prone due to the need for coordination between overlapping technologies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines firewall rule configuration and IPsec rule configuration into a single integrated security policy definition process. Instead of requiring security personnel to separately configure and coordinate two different rule sets, the system allows them to define a unified security policy that automatically generates both firewall and IPsec rules, eliminating the complexity of manual coordination between overlapping technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a translator between high-level security policy definitions and the specific syntax requirements of firewall and IPsec configurations. This intermediary automatically handles the complex task of converting a single security policy into coordinated firewall and IPsec rules, reducing errors and simplifying the configuration process.
2Stability of the object's composition
If security personnel manually coordinate firewall rules and IPsec rules, then they can ensure consistency, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming due to the complexity of IPsec terminology and multiple decisions required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining security policy templates and rules that automatically generate both firewall and IPsec configurations. Instead of requiring security personnel to manually coordinate every detail of both rule sets, the system has already prepared the coordinated rules in advance, reducing the time and effort required for configuration while maintaining consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying mechanisms where a single security policy definition is automatically replicated and adapted into both firewall rule format and IPsec rule format. This copying process ensures consistency between the two rule sets while eliminating the need for manual coordination, significantly reducing configuration time and effort.
3Reliability
If IPsec tools are configured to implement security policies, then data transmission security can be ensured, but the process is difficult due to confusing and inconsistent IPsec terminology and the need for many decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer that shields security personnel from the complexity of IPsec terminology and configuration details. This intermediary automatically handles the translation from high-level security policy definitions to specific IPsec rule syntax, eliminating the need for security personnel to navigate confusing and inconsistent IPsec terminology while ensuring proper data transmission security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the IPsec configuration process to serve itself by automatically generating IPsec rules from security policy definitions without requiring manual intervention for each configuration decision. The system self-adjusts to handle the complexity of IPsec terminology and makes the necessary configuration decisions automatically, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining security reliability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If outbound security policy is manually configured to be symmetric with inbound security policy, then matching security suites can be achieved, but the process becomes tedious and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry in reverse by allowing asymmetric configuration inputs (different inbound and outbound security requirements) to automatically generate symmetric security policies. Instead of requiring security personnel to manually ensure symmetry between inbound and outbound policies, the system accepts asymmetric definitions and automatically balances them, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining the necessary symmetry for matching security suites.
Data Source
AI summary
A security system that allows an outbound security policy for the connection security to be automatically derived from an inbound security policy for connection security is provided. The security system for an inbound security policy has security suites that each specify one or more security algorithms. Because the security system offers an outbound security suite that matches an inbound security suite, the computing devices that have the same inbound security policy have matching inbound and outbound security suites.