Pre-Boot Interface Configuration Based on Device Usage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems are shipped with default BIOS or UEFI configurations that are not tailored to individual user needs, leading to security risks and unnecessary exposure of devices, as users must manually configure ports and devices without specific security or risk information.
Innovation Solution
Implementing systems and methods to monitor unique usage characteristics of individual information handling systems to determine and apply a custom pre-boot interface configuration, disabling unused or infrequently used devices that pose security risks, and providing automated updates and recommendations for a secure configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a default BIOS/UEFI configuration is used for all systems, then manufacturing complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but security is worsened due to unnecessary device exposure and lack of user-specific tailoring
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of device usage characteristics during the operating system runtime session, evaluating usage patterns before determining the final pre-boot interface configuration. This allows the system to proactively identify unused devices and disable them in the pre-boot interface, reducing security risks before they can be exploited, while still maintaining ease of manufacture through automated post-facto configuration adjustments.
2Reliability
If individual system devices are manually configured by end users, then security can be improved through customized configuration, but ease of operation is worsened due to the complexity and time required for manual configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors its own device usage characteristics during the OS runtime session and self-determines the appropriate pre-boot interface configuration based on observed usage patterns. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual user configuration while maintaining security, as the system autonomously identifies unused devices and disables them in the pre-boot interface, reducing both the operational burden on users and security risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop by monitoring device usage characteristics during OS runtime and using this information to automatically adjust the pre-boot interface configuration. The monitoring component continuously observes device usage patterns, and this feedback is used to dynamically determine which devices should be enabled or disabled in the pre-boot interface, creating an automated security hardening process that adapts to actual usage without requiring manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all system devices are enabled by default, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but the attack surface is increased leading to security risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the pre-boot interface configuration based on observed device usage characteristics during OS runtime. Instead of maintaining a static configuration, the system continuously monitors which devices are actually used and adapts the pre-boot interface to enable only those devices, disabling unused ones. This dynamic approach maintains adaptability for needed devices while reducing the attack surface by eliminating unnecessary device exposure in the pre-boot environment.
4Reliability
If automated monitoring and configuration determination is implemented, then security is improved through reduced attack surface, but device complexity and processing requirements are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring component leverages the existing operating system runtime environment and existing device usage tracking mechanisms to gather usage characteristics, rather than requiring entirely separate monitoring infrastructure. By utilizing the multi-functional capabilities of the OS runtime session and existing system telemetry, the automated configuration determination process achieves enhanced security through reduced attack surface while minimizing additional device complexity and processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to monitor unique usage characteristics (e.g., system device usage) of an individual information handling system, and to determine a unique system pre-boot interface (PBI) configuration for the individual information handling system based on these monitored unique usage characteristics. The provided systems and methods may also be implemented to automatically update pre-boot interface security configuration for system devices based on the monitored usage characteristics of the individual information handling system.