IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,233,770
Granted Patent B2
US 11,233,770 · App. 16/460,823 · Granted Jan 25, 2022

User behavior based security in a software defined data center

Inventors: Sirisha Myneni (Santa Clara, CA); Rajiv Mordani (Fremont, CA); Kausum Kumar (Los Gatos, CA)
Assignee: VMWARE INC.
H04L63/0263H04L63/102H04L63/1433H04L63/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,233,770
App. No.
16/460,823
Granted
Jan 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Behavior-based security in a datacenter includes monitoring user actions made by users in the datacenter. Behavior-based risk scores are computer for users based on their monitored actions. One or more firewall rules are generated for users based on their behavior-based risk scores. The firewall rules regulate the actions of the users.

Claims (41)

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by one or more computers, computer-related actions performed by a user;

logging, by one or more of the computers, a logged event that includes the user's detected computer-related actions and the user that performed the detected computer-related actions;

computing, by one or more of the computers, one or more behavior-based risk scores for the user based on the user's computer-related actions;

receiving, by a rule builder, the logged event;

building, by the rule builder, one or more new behavior-based firewall rules for each different type of detected computer-related action by the user wherein the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules are based on the detected computer-related actions included in the logged event and the one or more behavior-based risk scores for the user;

inserting, by the rule builder, the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules into a firewall table;

periodically updating the user's one or more behavior-based risk scores as additional computer-related actions by the user are detected and logged;

updating the user's one or more behavior-based firewall rules by deleting previously built behavior-based firewall rules and building new behavior-based firewall rules based on the user's updated one or more behavior-based risk scores;

regulating, by one or more of the computers, the user's computer-related actions according to at least the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules inserted into the firewall table.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more behavior-based risk scores include one or more of a risk score associated with failed login attempts, of a risk score associated with accessing files, of a risk score associated with accessing servers in the enterprise, of a risk score associated with accessing the network, of a risk score associated with installing software, and of a risk score associated with executing processes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's computer-related actions are associated with corresponding vulnerability ratings, wherein the user's one or more behavior-based risk scores are computed using the vulnerability ratings corresponding to the user's computer-related actions.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein regulating the user's computer-related actions includes at least one of allowing or denying the user from logging onto a computer system, allowing or denying the user access to a file or a server, allowing, denying, or redirecting a destination of a network access, allowing or denying the user from installing software, and allowing or denying execution of a process.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions, which when executed by a computer device, cause the computer device to:

detect computer-related actions performed by a user;

log the user's computer-related actions as a logged event that includes the user's detected computer-related actions and the user that performed the detected computer-related actions;

compute one or more behavior-based risk scores for the user based on the user's computer-related actions;

receive, by a rule builder, the logged event;

build, by the rule builder, one or more new behavior-based firewall rules for each different type of detected computer-related action by the user wherein the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules are based on the detected computer-related actions included in the logged event and the one or more behavior-based risk scores for the user;

insert, by the rule builder, the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules into a firewall table;

periodically updating the user's one or more behavior-based risk scores as additional computer-related actions by the user are detected and logged;

updating the user's one or more behavior-based firewall rules by deleting previously built behavior-based firewall rules and building new behavior-based firewall rules based on the user's updated one or more behavior-based risk scores;

regulate the user's computer-related actions according to at least the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules inserted into the firewall table.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the one or more behavior-based risk scores include one or more of a risk score associated with failed login attempts, of a risk score associated with accessing files, of a risk score associated with accessing servers in the enterprise, of a risk score associated with accessing the network, of a risk score associated with installing software, and of a risk score associated with executing processes.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the user's computer-related actions are associated with corresponding vulnerability ratings, wherein the user's one or more behavior-based risk scores are computed using the vulnerability ratings corresponding to the user's computer-related actions.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein regulating the user's computer-related actions includes at least one of allowing or denying the user from logging onto a computer system, allowing or denying the user access to a file or a server, allowing, denying, or redirecting a destination of a network access, allowing or denying the user from installing software, and allowing or denying execution of a process.

9. An apparatus comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for controlling the one or more computer processors to be operable to:

detect computer-related actions performed by a user;

log the user's computer-related actions as a logged event that includes the user's detected computer-related actions and the user that performed the detected computer-related actions;

compute one or more behavior-based risk scores for the user based on the user's computer-related actions;

receive, by a rule builder, the logged event;

build, by the rule builder, one or more new behavior-based firewall rules for each different type of detected computer-related action by the user wherein the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules are based on the detected computer-related actions included in the logged event and the one or more behavior-based risk scores for the user;

insert, by the rule builder, the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules into a firewall table;

periodically updating the user's one or more behavior-based risk scores as additional computer-related actions by the user are detected and logged;

updating the user's one or more behavior-based firewall rules by deleting previously built behavior-based firewall rules and building new behavior-based firewall rules based on the user's updated one or more behavior-based risk scores;

regulate the user's computer-related actions according to at least the one or more new behavior-based firewall rules inserted into the firewall table.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the user's computer-related actions are associated with corresponding vulnerability ratings, wherein the user's one or more behavior-based risk scores are computed using the vulnerability ratings corresponding to the user's computer-related actions.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one or more behavior-based risk scores include one or more of a risk score associated with failed login attempts, of a risk score associated with accessing files, of a risk score associated with accessing servers in the enterprise, of a risk score associated with accessing the network, of a risk score associated with installing software, and of a risk score associated with executing processes.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises instructions for controlling the one or more computer processors to be operable to regulate the user's computer-related actions includes at least one of allowing or denying the user from logging onto a computer system, allowing or denying the user access to a file or a server, allowing, denying, or redirecting a destination of a network access, allowing or denying the user from installing software, and allowing or denying execution of a process.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 15, 2024
From: VMWARE, INC.
To: VMWARE LLC
Reel/Frame 067102/0395 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2020
From: MYNENI, SIRISHA; MORDANI, RAJIV; KUMAR, KAUSUM
To: VMWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 054472/0895 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210006542A1 · Jan 7, 2021