Distributed Threat Database Architecture for Network Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network security systems primarily focus on mitigating damage after threats have occurred, lacking predictive capabilities to prevent future threats and are inefficient in sharing threat information across wide networks, leading to increased costs and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A scalable, distributed architecture using threat instance codes based on the EPC scheme for serializing and categorizing network threats, allowing for efficient sharing and predictive modeling, with a hierarchical DNS architecture and validation engines to secure access to threat data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a central database is used to store all known network threats, then comprehensive threat information is available, but the database becomes vulnerable to hacking and denial-of-service attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the central database into multiple distributed databases across different network nodes. Each database stores threat information relevant to specific network segments or organizations, eliminating the single point of failure while maintaining comprehensive coverage through the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mediator service that acts as an intermediary between clients and distributed databases. This mediator handles query routing, authentication, and data aggregation, protecting individual databases from direct access and enabling reliable information retrieval across the distributed system.
2Reliability
If threat data is shared within small trusted networks, then data security is maintained, but costs increase and access to external threat knowledge is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal threat information system where databases can serve multiple functions: local organizations can query both internal and external threat data, and the system can operate in different modes (fully distributed, hybrid, or centralized) depending on security requirements and cost considerations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where organizations receiving threat information can provide feedback about the effectiveness and cost-benefit ratio of data sharing. This feedback loops back to the system administrator to adjust sharing policies, optimize resource allocation, and balance security requirements with cost efficiency.
3Reliability
If entities keep threat knowledge private due to competitive fears, then internal security is maintained, but the number of reporting entities decreases and predictive capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing each organization to control the granularity and sensitivity of threat information they share. Organizations can publish detailed information about non-critical threats while maintaining privacy over sensitive data, enabling collaborative predictive modeling without compromising internal security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary action by allowing organizations to share threat intelligence in advance of actual attacks. By publishing threat patterns, indicators of compromise, and vulnerability information proactively, organizations enable the system to build predictive models that can detect and prevent future attacks before they occur.
Data Source
AI summary
The system and method for predictive modeling in a network security service described herein may provide a scalable architecture that can model information relating to any specific threat or potential threat in a network and manage routing requests relating to the threat information among various entities participating in the security service. In particular, the scalable architecture may include various distributed databases that store serialized information describing threat instances, wherein a detection service may maintain information identifying entities associated with the databases storing the serialized information. Further, the security service may include a hierarchical subscriber name service that participating entities can traverse to locate the serialized threat information in the various databases and evaluate how the threat instances may have evolved or progressed through the network.