Auditing Print Content During Virtual Desktop Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional desktop virtualization solutions face security vulnerabilities due to printer redirection, allowing sensitive corporate data to be extracted outside the enterprise's control, making it impractical to disable this feature as users need to print documents for daily work.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system to audit print content during printer redirection by converting Enhanced MetaFile (EMF) data into auditable content, checking for predefined sensitive data, and generating a report or blocking the print request, with the option to allow or block the print based on organizational policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If printer redirection is enabled in virtual desktop, then users can print documents for daily work, but sensitive corporate data can be extracted outside enterprise control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary auditing system between the virtual desktop and the physical printer. This intermediary captures print job data, analyzes it for sensitive information using pattern matching and machine learning, and decides whether to allow or block the print request. This mediator enables printing functionality while adding a security layer that prevents unauthorized data extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where print job results are analyzed and fed back to the auditing system. The system continuously learns from blocked and allowed print jobs, refining its detection algorithms. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to new types of sensitive data patterns while maintaining productive printing operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If printer redirection is disabled to prevent data extraction, then security is improved, but users cannot perform daily work requiring printing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of print jobs before they are executed. By scanning print data for sensitive patterns and using machine learning models to predict potential data leaks, the system proactively blocks risky print requests while allowing legitimate ones to proceed. This preliminary action prevents security incidents before they occur, maintaining both security and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes security parameters based on the analysis of each print job. Rather than using a fixed block-or-allow policy, the system adjusts security thresholds and detection sensitivity based on the content, user role, and context of the print request. This parameter adaptation allows legitimate printing while blocking only the harmful requests.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If content auditing is implemented to check print data, then sensitive data can be detected, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auditing system is segmented into distinct functional modules: print job capture, data pattern matching, machine learning analysis, decision-making, and report generation. Each module handles a specific aspect of the auditing process, making the overall complex system manageable and maintainable. This segmentation allows the system to implement sophisticated detection without overwhelming complexity in any single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of print job data for analysis without affecting the original print workflow. By working with data copies rather than modifying the actual print process, the system can implement complex detection algorithms while keeping the core printing functionality simple and unchanged. This copying approach isolates the complexity to the analysis layer.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for auditing print content during printer redirection in a virtual desktop. The ability to audit redirected print content allows an organization to pre-define certain sensitive data and to track whether print redirection requests in the virtual desktop environment contain any such sensitive data. If such sensitive data is contained in a printer redirection request, a file is generated containing information about the sensitive data, as well as a watermark that encodes information about the printer redirection request, such the user identifier of the user who initiated the print request and a timestamp of when the print request occurred. The generated file is transmitted to one or more registered recipients.