Security-Sensitivity Scoring for Virtualized Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern computing systems face significant security risks due to improperly managed permissions, particularly in virtualized environments, where unused permissions can increase the attack surface and damage potential, making it challenging to identify and prioritize security threats effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for dynamically calculating a security-sensitivity status score based on attributes like size, activity level, sensitivity, and security level of virtualized environments, allowing for comparison and prioritization using normalized scores to identify and address the highest risk factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If permissions are granted to users for accessing restricted resources, then access capability is improved, but security risk increases due to potential unauthorized access and attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic permission management where permissions are not static but adapt based on current security context, user behavior, and risk assessment. The system continuously evaluates permission necessity and revokes or modifies permissions when they are no longer needed or when security risks increase, transforming the static permission model into a dynamic one that balances access capability with security protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of permission management by introducing multiple dimensions for evaluating permissions: damage potential scores, sensitivity levels, usage frequency, and risk metrics. Instead of treating all permissions equally, the system assigns different weightings and priorities to various permission parameters, allowing selective restriction or enhancement of specific permissions based on their calculated risk profiles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number and variety of permissions are increased to support diverse applications, then functionality is improved, but difficulty in managing and assessing security risks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different permissions with different management approaches rather than applying a uniform management model. Each permission is evaluated and managed according to its specific characteristics: damage potential, sensitivity, usage patterns, and associated risks. High-risk permissions receive more stringent controls and monitoring, while low-risk permissions are managed more loosely, optimizing the balance between functionality and security management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a composite permission management framework that combines multiple evaluation criteria (damage potential scores, sensitivity levels, usage frequency, risk metrics) into an integrated assessment model. This composite approach allows the system to handle diverse permission types by synthesizing multiple factors into a unified risk evaluation, simplifying the management of complex permission sets across diverse applications.
3Ease of operation
If manual prioritization of environments is performed, then resource allocation is simplified, but accuracy in identifying highest risk factors decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback loops that continuously monitor permission usage, security events, and risk metrics across virtualized environments. This feedback is processed to automatically update risk assessments and prioritize environments based on actual security conditions rather than manual estimates. The feedback mechanism ensures that resource allocation decisions are based on precise, real-time data about actual security risks and threats.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of prioritization with an automated computational system that calculates risk scores and environment priorities algorithmically. Instead of human operators manually assessing and ranking environments, the system uses automated analysis of security data, permission patterns, and threat intelligence to objectively determine priority levels, significantly improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation through automated reporting and dashboard interfaces.
4Measurement precision
If normalized damage potential scores are calculated for permissions, then comparison between different permissions is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the calculation of damage potential scores into distinct modular components: base score calculation, sensitivity adjustments, usage pattern modifiers, and risk factor multipliers. Each component handles a specific aspect of the evaluation, allowing the system to calculate comprehensive scores through a series of manageable steps rather than a single complex calculation. This segmentation improves measurement precision while making the computational process more tractable and maintainable.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for measuring and comparing security efficiency and importance in virtualized environments. Techniques include identifying a plurality of virtualized computing environments and calculating, for a first of the plurality of virtualized computing environments, a security-sensitivity status, the security-sensitivity status being based on at least: a size attribute of the first virtualized computing environment; an activity level of the first virtualized computing environment; a sensitivity level of the first virtualized computing environment; and a security level of the first virtualized computing environment. Further techniques include accessing a reference security-sensitivity status corresponding to the first virtualized computing environment; comparing the security-sensitivity status of the first virtualized computing environment with the reference security-sensitivity status; and identifying, based on the comparing, a security-sensitivity status gap.