SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING RISK ANALYSIS

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

assigning values to each of a plurality of security-related vulnerabilities, each of the values being based on at least one of a function or location of a network element;

monitoring a first one of a plurality of network elements;

identifying at least one security-related vulnerability associated with the first network element; and

generating a risk indicator for the first network element based on an assigned value associated with the identified at least one security-related vulnerability.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring comprises:

scanning the first network element to identify security-related vulnerabilities, the security-related vulnerabilities representing potential points of attack.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the identifying at least one security-related vulnerability comprises:

identifying a plurality of security-related vulnerabilities, and wherein generating a risk indicator for the first network element comprises:

performing a mathematical operation on values associated with each of the plurality of identified security-related vulnerabilities associated with the first network element.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying the risk indicator at a user device.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying at least one security-related vulnerability comprises at least one of:

identifying at least one open port associated with the first network element,

determining that the first network element does not include a firewall or an intrusion detection system,

determining that the first network element interfaces with a non-secured device, or

identifying that the first network element is under an attack.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a plurality of open ports on the plurality of network elements, wherein the assigning values comprises:

assigning values to each identified open port based on a level of vulnerability associated with the corresponding network element on which the open port exists.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring the plurality of network elements;

generating a risk indicator for each of the network elements, the risk indicator representing a relative risk level associated with the corresponding network element; and

providing the risk indicator for each of the network elements to a user device for display.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising:

prioritizing risk associated with the plurality of network elements based on the risk indicators.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether action is required with respect to the first network element based on the risk indicator; and

automatically performing a remedial action with respect to the first network element, in response to determining that action is required.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising:

generating, after performing the remedial action, a second risk indicator for the first network element; and

determining, based on the second risk indicator, whether a security-related compliance has been achieved with respect to the first network element.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the automatically performing a remedial action comprises:

quarantining or preventing access to the first network element.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the risk indicator comprises a numerical score.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the generating a risk indicator comprises:

determining whether an exception to a security rule exists with respect to the identified at least one security-related vulnerability; and

adjusting the risk indicator for the first network element in response to determining that an exception to a security rule exists with respect to the identified at least one security-related vulnerability.

14 . A system, comprising:

a memory configured to:

store values associated with a plurality of security-related vulnerabilities, and

store information representing exceptions to security rules; and

a processing device configured to:

receive information corresponding to at least one identified security-related vulnerability associated with a first network device,

access the memory to determine a value associated with each of the at least one identified security-related vulnerability associated with the first network device,

access the memory to determine whether an exception to a security rule exists with respect to any of the at least one identified security-related vulnerability associated with the first network device, and

generate a risk indicator for the first network device based on the value associated with each of the at least one identified security-related vulnerability and whether an exception to a security rule exists with respect to any of the at least one identified security-related vulnerability.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:

forward the risk indicator to a user device for display.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:

provide an interface to a user device, the interface including options associated with monitoring a plurality of network devices,

receive an input from the user device,

identify a second network device in response to the input,

generate a risk indicator associated with the second network device, and

provide the risk indicator for the second network device to the user device.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the values stored in the memory are based on at least one of a function or location associated with a network device.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:

scan the first network device to identify whether any open ports exist on the first network device.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to:

determine whether action is required with respect to the first network device based on the risk indicator; and

automatically perform a remedial action with respect to the first network device, in response to determining that action is required.

20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to at least one of:

transmit a message to a party responsible for monitoring the first network device, in response to determining that action is required, or

store information associated with the remedial action.