Applying network policies to devices based on their current access network

1. A computer-implemented method executed by one or more processors for applying network policies to devices based on their current access network, the method comprising:

maintaining, in a database, records of a plurality of known access networks and, for each known access network, at least one corresponding address-range that defines a range of network addresses associated with the known access network;

receiving over a particular network, by a server connected to the particular network, a message from a device separate from the server, the message associated with a source address;

determining, by the server, a current access network for the device including comparing the source address to the address-ranges in the database; and

applying a network policy for the particular network to the device based on the determined current access network including assigning a maximum bandwidth usage parameter to the device that defines a maximum bandwidth usage permitted for the device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message from the device is received by a server at an access network separate from the current access network of the device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network over which the message is received from the device is the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each address-range includes a subnet mask.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current access network is associated with a network provider that operates the current access network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the network policy to the device includes restricting access to one or more network resources.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the network policy to the device includes permitting access to one or more network resources.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received message is a heartbeat message.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received message is a request for a proxy automatic configuration (PAC) script.

10. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions operable when executed to cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

maintaining, in a database, records of a plurality of known access networks and, for each known access network, at least one corresponding address-range that defines a range of network addresses associated with the known access network;

receiving over the particular network, by a server connected to the particular network, a message from a device separate from the server, the message associated with a source address;

determining, by the server, a current access network for the device including comparing the source address to the address-ranges in the database; and

applying a network policy for the particular network to the device based on the determined current access network including assigning a maximum bandwidth usage parameter to the device that defines a maximum bandwidth usage permitted for the device.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the message from the device is received by a server at an access network separate from the current access network of the device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the network over which the message is received from the device is the Internet.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein each address-range includes a subnet mask.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the current access network is associated with a network provider that operates the current access network.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein applying the network policy to the device includes restricting access to one or more network resources.

16. A system for applying network policies to devices based on their current access network comprising:

memory for storing data; and

one or more processors operable to perform operations comprising:

maintaining, in a database, records of a plurality of known access networks and, for each known access network, at least one corresponding address-range that defines a range of network addresses associated with the known access network;

receiving over the particular network, by a server connected to the particular network, a message from a device separate from the server, the message associated with a source address;

determining, by the server, a current access network for the device including comparing the source address to the address-ranges in the database; and

applying a network policy for the particular network to the device based on the determined current access network including assigning a maximum bandwidth usage parameter to the device that defines a maximum bandwidth usage permitted for the device.

17. A computer-implemented method executed by one or more processors for applying network policies to devices based on their current access network, the method comprising:

maintaining, in a database, records of a plurality of known access networks and, for each known access network, at least one corresponding address-range that defines a range of network addresses associated with the known access network

receiving, by a server of a distributed computing system that is at least partially hosted on a particular access network, a plurality of messages from a plurality of devices over a network, each of the messages associated with a corresponding source address;

determining, by the server for each device of the plurality of devices, a current access network for each device including comparing each device's source address to the address-ranges in the database;

applying, to the devices of a subset of the devices, a first network policy based on the determining, the first network policy defining a first encryption requirement; and

applying, to the devices of the plurality of devices that are not of the subset, a second network policy based on the determining, the second network policy defining a second encryption requirement, wherein the first network policy and the second network policy each assign a maximum bandwidth usage parameter.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the network over which the message is received from the plurality of devices is the Internet.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein each address-range includes a subnet mask.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the current access networks are associated with one of a plurality of network providers that each operate a current access network.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first network policy and the second network policy each specify restricting access to one or more network resources.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first network policy and the second network policy each specify permitting access to one or more network resources.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the received messages include heartbeat messages.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the received messages include requests for a proxy automatic configuration (PAC) script.

25. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions operable when executed to cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

maintaining, in a database, records of a plurality of known access networks and, for each known access network, at least one corresponding address-range that defines a range of network addresses associated with the known access network

receiving, by a server of a distributed computing system that is at least partially hosted on a particular access network, a plurality of messages from a plurality of devices over a network, each of the messages associated with a corresponding source address;

determining, by the server for each device of the plurality of devices, a current access network for each device including comparing each device's source address to the address-ranges in the database;

applying, to the devices of a subset of the devices, a first network policy based on the determining, the first network policy defining a first encryption requirement; and

applying, to the devices of the plurality of devices that are not of the subset, a second network policy based on the determining, the second network policy defining a second encryption requirement, wherein the first network policy and the second network policy each assign a maximum bandwidth usage parameter.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein the network over which the message is received from the plurality of devices is the Internet.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein each address-range includes a subnet mask.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein each of the current access networks are associated with one of a plurality of network providers that each operate a current access network.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein the first network policy and the second network policy each specify restricting access to one or more network resources.

30. A system for applying network policies to devices based on their current access network comprising:

memory for storing data; and

one or more processors operable to perform operations comprising:

maintaining, in a database, records of a plurality of known access networks and, for each known access network, at least one corresponding address-range that defines a range of network addresses associated with the known access network

receiving, by a server of a distributed computing system that is at least partially hosted on a particular access network, a plurality of messages from a plurality of devices over a network, each of the messages associated with a corresponding source address;

determining, by the server for each device of the plurality of devices, a current access network for each device including comparing each device's source address to the address-ranges in the database;

applying, to the devices of a subset of the devices, a first network policy based on the determining, the first network policy defining a first encryption requirement; and

applying, to the devices of the plurality of devices that are not of the subset, a second network policy based on the determining, the second network policy defining a second encryption requirement, wherein the first network policy and the second network policy each assign a maximum bandwidth usage parameter.