Vendor-Agnostic Web Proxy Policy Sync for Exception Governance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exception processes in multi-vendor web proxy security environments are manual, time-consuming, error-prone, lack end-to-end oversight, and lack governance, transparency, and periodic hygiene, making it difficult to maintain a security baseline across these environments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a vendor-agnostic RESTful application program interface (ProxyAPI) and policy sync workers to automate web security control integration and exception processes, enabling seamless integration with multiple vendor proxy services, and a portal for automating web exception workflows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual exception processes are used in multi-vendor web proxy environments, then flexibility in handling authorized business access is maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming, error-prone, and lacks governance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized exception management platform that acts as an intermediary between users and multiple vendor proxy services. This platform receives exception requests, converts them into vendor-specific formats, and automatically provisions them across different proxy vendors, eliminating manual handoffs and reducing provisioning time while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of exception management from manual configuration to automated conversion. By implementing automated exception conversion capabilities that transform generic exception requests into vendor-specific configurations, the system reduces the time loss associated with manual processes while maintaining the ability to handle diverse vendor requirements
2Reliability
If multiple vendor proxy services are employed for comprehensive security controls, then security coverage is improved, but maintaining a synchronized security baseline becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal exception management platform that can interface with multiple vendor proxy services through a single system. The platform maintains a centralized repository of exception policies and automatically distributes them to all connected vendor services, ensuring baseline synchronization while abstracting away the complexity of individual vendor configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the complex multi-vendor integration task into manageable components: a centralized policy management layer, automated conversion engines for each vendor, and distribution mechanisms. This segmentation allows the system to maintain security baselines across multiple vendors without being overwhelmed by integration complexity
3Ease of operation
If conventional manual exception processes are used, then individual vendor configurations can be handled, but end-to-end oversight and governance are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that provide end-to-end visibility of the exception provisioning process. The centralized platform tracks exception requests from submission through conversion to each vendor, providing audit trails and status information. This feedback loop ensures transparency and governance while automating the management process
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of providing web security control integration in a system that utilizes at least one vendor proxy service for securely accessing the Internet. The method comprises receiving an instruction to update a web control policy or exception, generating a web control and exception update request, using a vendor agnostic API, wherein the web control and exception update request includes policy objects and content data, delivering the web control and exception data to a policy sync worker associated with a particular vendor proxy service, converting the web control and exception update request, via the policy sync worker into a format suited to the particular vendor proxy service, and delivering the converted web control and exception update request to the particular vendor proxy service associated with the policy sync worker to update the web control policy at the particular vendor proxy service.