Security Configuration Verification Using Attack Validation Logs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for verifying the configuration of security technologies on computer networks are inadequate, leading to potential misconfigurations that can compromise network security during attacks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an attack validation scenario is deployed on a computer network to verify the configuration of security technologies by simulating network security threats, correlating security event data with predefined parameters, and flagging technologies that fail to log, detect, or alert appropriately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If security technologies are deployed on a computer network, then network security is improved, but configuration errors and misconfigurations can occur that compromise security
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where security event data is continuously collected from security technologies, correlated with expected behavior, and used to generate reports that identify configuration errors. This closed-loop feedback system enables continuous verification and correction of security technology configurations, ensuring that security policies are properly enforced without requiring manual intervention for each configuration check.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification of security technology configurations by automatically collecting security event data, correlating it with expected behavior patterns, and generating configuration error reports without external intervention. This self-service approach enables the security system to autonomously detect and report misconfigurations, reducing reliance on manual configuration audits and improving overall configuration accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual verification of security technology configurations is performed, then configuration accuracy can be improved, but it requires significant time and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs configuration verification by collecting security event data from security technologies, correlating it with expected behavior, and generating reports without human intervention. This self-service verification process eliminates the time-consuming manual configuration audits while maintaining high configuration accuracy through automated correlation analysis of security events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical verification processes with an automated electronic system that collects security event data, performs correlation analysis using computing resources, and generates configuration reports. This substitution of mechanical manual verification with electronic automated processing dramatically reduces verification time while maintaining or improving configuration accuracy through systematic data analysis.
3Reliability
If continuous validation of security configurations is implemented, then security reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal validation system that can verify configurations across multiple types of security technologies (firewalls, intrusion detection systems, antivirus software) using a single correlated security event data framework. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate validation systems for each security technology type, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining continuous validation of all security configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a centralized correlation process as an intermediary that collects security event data from various security technologies, processes the data through standardized correlation rules, and generates unified configuration reports. This intermediary correlation layer simplifies the complexity by providing a single point of coordination between diverse security technologies and the validation process, making the overall system more manageable despite the continuous validation requirements.
4Manufacturing precision
If security event data is collected and correlated, then configuration errors can be detected, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential security event data elements that are directly relevant to configuration verification, rather than processing all possible security data. By selectively extracting and correlating only the necessary event parameters with expected behavior patterns, the system achieves high detection accuracy for configuration errors while minimizing unnecessary data processing and associated energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
One variation of a method for verifying configurations of security technologies deployed on a computer network includes: deploying a phase-within an attack validation scenario analogous to a network security threat and associated with a target response type—for execution by an asset on the computer network during a phase window; during the polling window following the phase window, polling a log of a security technology deployed on the network for a sequence of events associated with the target asset; correlation events, in the sequence of events, with the phase based on proximities of event timestamps to the phase window; and, in response to a difference between an event type of a first event correlated with the phase and the target response type, generating a prompt to reconfigure the security technology to respond to behaviors analogous to the phase, on the computer network, according to the target response type.