Virtual Machine Manager for Network Security Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In data centers, the lack of central oversight in modern distributed networks leads to inefficiencies and potential security issues due to overbroad vulnerability scanning and compliance measures, as well as unnoticed network events and changes in configuration, which can result in resource waste and security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual machine manager component that monitors user requests, network traffic, and virtual machine instance status to perform security assessments and manage virtual machine networks, allowing for the detection of vulnerabilities and the prevention, delay, or reversal of potentially risky activities based on assessment results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vulnerability scanning and compliance measures are implemented broadly across distributed networks, then network security is improved, but network resources are wasted and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing vulnerability scanning and compliance measures selectively at the virtual machine level rather than uniformly across the entire network. Each virtual machine instance can be assessed individually based on its specific configuration, workload, and security requirements, allowing resources to be allocated efficiently to only those areas that actually need protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine manager acts as an intermediary between network administrators and virtual machine instances. It receives compliance requirements from administrators, translates them into actionable assessment tasks, distributes them to appropriate virtual machines, and aggregates the results. This intermediary layer enables broad security coverage without requiring direct management of each individual virtual machine, thereby reducing administrative overhead and resource waste.
2Reliability
If central oversight is implemented in distributed networks, then network security and compliance are improved, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine manager serves as a centralized intermediary that handles compliance management tasks. It receives compliance requirements from network administrators, translates them into specific assessment tasks for individual virtual machines, distributes these tasks throughout the virtual machine network, and aggregates the results into comprehensive compliance reports. This intermediary approach provides central oversight without requiring direct management of each virtual machine, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the compliance management function into distinct components: requirement reception at the virtual machine manager, task translation and distribution at the virtual machine manager, and execution at individual virtual machine instances. This segmentation allows the system to maintain central oversight while distributing the actual work across multiple independent units, reducing the complexity burden on any single component.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive monitoring of virtual machine networks is implemented, then network security and visibility are improved, but loss of information and false positives increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system applies local quality by tailoring assessment criteria and monitoring parameters to the specific characteristics of each virtual machine instance. Rather than using uniform monitoring rules that generate false positives, the system adapts its monitoring approach based on the unique configuration, workload, and security posture of each virtual machine, thereby improving accuracy and reducing false alarms while maintaining comprehensive visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where virtual machine instances provide their status information, configuration data, and security assessment results back to the virtual machine manager. This feedback loop enables the system to continuously refine its monitoring and assessment criteria based on actual virtual machine behavior and performance, reducing false positives while maintaining comprehensive information awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and interfaces for the management of virtual machine instances and other programmatically controlled networks are provided. The hosted virtual networks are configured in a manner such that a virtual machine manager of the virtual network may monitor activity such as user requests, network traffic, and the status and execution of various virtual machine instances to determine possible security assessments. Aspects of the virtual network may be assessed for vulnerabilities at varying levels of granularity and sophistication when a suspicious event or triggering activity is detected. Illustrative embodiments of the systems and methods may be implemented on a virtual network overlaid on one or more intermediate physical networks that are used as a substrate network.