Security-Metric Routing for Trusted Network Path Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing routing protocols in complex computer networks face limitations in scalability, adaptability, and security, necessitating improved techniques for efficient and secure data transfer.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating security metrics into routing protocols by augmenting them with attestation indicators, reliability metrics, and encryption indicators to enhance the evaluation of paths and select optimal routes based on both conventional and security-related factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing routing protocols are used, then network scalability is maintained, but network security is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The routing protocol is segmented into multiple independent components: security metric collection module, security evaluation module, and path selection module. Each component handles specific tasks separately, allowing the system to enhance security functionality without fundamentally redesigning the entire routing protocol, thus managing complexity while improving security
Solution Approach 2:
Security metrics serve as an intermediary layer between the routing protocol and network security requirements. The protocol collects security metrics from various sources, evaluates them through security functions, and uses the results to make routing decisions, thereby enhancing security without direct modification of core routing mechanisms
2Measurement precision
If security metrics are collected from multiple sources, then path evaluation accuracy is improved, but information processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential security metrics needed for routing decisions from multiple available sources. Rather than processing all possible security information, the system identifies and collects specific metrics (such as security scores, threat levels, and encryption status) that directly impact path evaluation, reducing processing overhead while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
Different security metrics are collected and evaluated with different levels of detail based on their local importance to specific routing scenarios. Critical security parameters receive more detailed processing, while less critical ones are evaluated more efficiently, optimizing the balance between accuracy and overhead
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple routing protocols are used for path selection, then routing adaptability is improved, but protocol compatibility challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The routing system implements a universal security evaluation framework that can work with multiple different routing protocols simultaneously. The security metric collection and evaluation mechanisms are designed to be protocol-agnostic, allowing the same security enhancement layer to function across OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, and other protocols without requiring protocol-specific implementations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters used for path selection by incorporating security metrics as additional routing parameters. Rather than modifying the core routing protocols, it adds security-related parameters (security scores, threat levels, encryption status) to the existing routing decision-making process, allowing multiple protocols to coexist with enhanced security capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for optimizing routing decisions based on security metrics within a network environment are described herein. In some cases, by using various security metrics, such as encryption indicators, attestation indicators, secureness metrics, and reliability metrics, an exemplary system can assess the security level and reliability of network paths. These metrics may provide valuable insights into the trustworthiness and integrity of participating nodes and links and enable informed decision-making regarding path selection.