Network Threat Indicator Prioritization via Confidence Scoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

The volume of information from various sources regarding network security incidents creates a backlog, delaying the detection and prevention of malicious network activity, as existing systems lack efficient methods to prioritize and respond to network threat indicators effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a processor configured to receive network threat reports, extract indicators, determine confidence and impact scores, and prioritize actions such as blocking or monitoring network traffic based on these scores, enabling automated response without user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If network threat reports from various sources are collected and analyzed manually, then comprehensive threat detection coverage is achieved, but the volume of information creates a backlog that delays detecting and preventing malicious network activity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreat detection coverageVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically processes threat indicators without human intervention by extracting indicators from reports, calculating confidence and impact scores, prioritizing them, and executing blocking or monitoring actions autonomously, eliminating manual analysis backlog while maintaining comprehensive coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms unstructured threat reports into structured data by extracting specific parameters (indicators, confidence scores, impact scores), enabling automated prioritization and rapid response through quantitative comparison of multiple threat indicators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If all network threat indicators are processed equally, then thorough analysis is achieved, but the backlog delays detection and prevention of malicious activity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindicator analysis thoroughnessVSAvoidthreat processing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different processing priorities to different indicators based on their local characteristics (confidence score and impact score), allocating more resources and attention to high-priority indicators while maintaining adequate processing of lower-priority ones, thereby improving overall throughput without sacrificing thoroughness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If manual analysis of network threat indicators is performed, then accurate assessment of malicious activity is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and creates delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalicious activity assessment accuracyVSAvoidanalysis time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical analysis with automated computational processes that calculate confidence scores based on multiple data sources and impact scores based on threat characteristics, achieving accurate assessment at machine speed rather than human speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If automated response actions are implemented without user input, then response speed is improved, but the risk of false positives and incorrect blocking increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidaction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses confidence scores and impact scores as quantitative parameters to objectively determine when automated actions should be taken, reducing false positives by requiring both high confidence in the threat and high impact to trigger blocking actions, while maintaining rapid response through automated execution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3591934B1Network threat indicator extraction and response
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 THE BOEING CO
  • EP3591934B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3591934B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3591934B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device includes a communication interface and a processor. The communication interface is configured to receive a network threat report. The processor is configured to extract an indicator from the network threat report. The indicator is reported to be associated with a network threat. The processor is also configured to determine, based on the indicator, a confidence score indicating a likelihood that the indicator is associated with malicious activity. The processor is further configured to determine, based on the indicator, an impact score indicating a potential severity of the malicious activity. The processor is further configured to identify, based on the indicator, the confidence score, and the impact score, an action to be performed. The action includes blocking network traffic corresponding to the indicator or monitoring network traffic corresponding to the indicator. The processor is also configured to initiate performance of the action.