IP Library Granted Patent US 11,985,128
Granted Patent B2
US 11,985,128 · App. 17/406,439 · Granted May 14, 2024

Device step-up authentication system

Inventors: Jacob Thomas Covell (New York, NY); Thomas Jefferson Sandridge (Tampa, FL); Alvin Zhang (Somerville, MA); Robert Huntington Grant (Marietta, GA)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H04L63/0876H04L63/0272H04L63/0815H04L63/083H04L63/0861H04L63/102H04L63/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,985,128
App. No.
17/406,439
Granted
May 14, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide computer-implemented methods, computer program products and computer systems. Embodiments of the present invention can monitor user activity for one or more user interactions performed while connected to a Virtual Private Network. Embodiments of the present invention can then identify potential risks associated with a user and respective user interactions. Embodiments of the present invention can then, in response to determining a respective user interaction of the one or more interactions is suspicious, generate a real time risk score for the respective user interaction. Embodiments of the present invention can then, in response to the generate real time risk score exceeding a threshold level of risk for the respective user interaction, initiate a secondary authentication protocol.

Claims (60)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

monitoring user activity for one or more user interactions performed while connected to a Virtual Private Network (VPN);

generating a user impact score that measures potential impact if credentials of the user maintained access to the VPN by assigning weighted values to the user's access to sensitive information, the user's communication patterns demonstrating access to management, the user's decision making ability, transactions of the user, and system admin capabilities of the user;

determining a respective user interaction of the one or more user interactions deviates from established user interactions based on location of the user, times the user accesses the VPN, and biometrics of the user;

assigning each interaction of the user a weighted score that represents a real time risk of impact based on the actions performed; and

in response to the generated user impact score and weighted score that represents the real time risk of impact based on the actions performed exceeding a threshold level of risk authenticating the user's identity before allowing an action to perform the respective user interaction via random selection of an authentication measure; and

in response to a failed reauthentication of the user's identity, terminating connection to the VPN.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein reauthenticating the user's identifying before allowing an action to perform the respective user interaction comprises:

re-authenticating the user's identity before allowing an action to perform the respective user interaction via a company-issued mobile device mobile connecting to a respective VPN.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein re-authenticating the user's identity before allowing an action to perform the respective user interaction via a company-issued mobile device mobile connecting to a respective VPN comprises randomly selecting an authentication measure from the group consisting: a traditional password authentication, biometric authentication, single sign-on authentication, two-factor authentication, and token authentication.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying potential risks associated with a user and respective user interactions comprises:

determining a user interaction or activity as suspicious based on a user's profile, location, time of day, data collected from the user's device using natural language classification and natural language understanding classification module.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying potential risks associated with a user and respective user interactions comprises:

generating a user risk impact potential score based on a user's profile by assigning weighted values to one or more categories comprising: access to sensitive information, communication patterns demonstrating access to management, decision making ability, transactions, and system admin capabilities;

determining at least one interaction of the one or more interactions is suspicious based on metadata associated with the at least one interaction; and

generating risk topics with the at least one interaction of the one or more interactions that has been determined to be suspicious.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

comparing the generated risk topics with the at least one interaction to a risk access table to identify a specified level of risk associated with the at least one interaction.

7. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to monitor user activity for one or more user interactions performed while connected to a Virtual Private Network (VPN);

program instructions to determine a respective user interaction of the one or more user interactions deviates from established user interactions based on a user's profile, location, time of day, and data collected from the user's device using natural language classification and natural language understanding classification module;

program instructions to, in response to determining a respective user interaction of the one or more user interactions deviates from established user interactions, initiating a secondary authentication protocol comprising:

program instructions to generate a topic associated with the user interaction of the one or more user interactions that deviates from established user interactions and in response to the generated topic,

program instructions to, in response to generating a topic associated with the user interaction of the one or more user interactions being classified as having a high-risk potential, calculate a real-time risk score for the associated user interaction based on a user impact score and immediacy of the user interaction, and

program instructions to, in response to the calculated real-time risk score for the user interaction reaching a risk threshold, initiate a mid-connection, step-up authentication; and

program instructions to, in response to a failed mid-connection, step-up authentication of the user's identity, terminate connection to the VPN.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to re-authenticate the user's identity before allowing an action to perform the respective user interaction via a company-issued mobile device mobile connecting to a respective VPN.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to randomly select an authentication measure from the group consisting: a traditional password authentication, biometric authentication, single sign-on authentication, two-factor authentication, and token authentication.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to identify potential risks associated with a user and respective user interactions, wherein the program instruction to identify potential risks associated with a user and respective user interactions comprise:

program instructions to generate a user risk impact potential score based on a user's profile by assigning weighted values to one or more categories comprising: access to sensitive information, communication patterns demonstrating access to management, decision making ability, transactions, and system admin capabilities;

program instructions to determine at least one interaction of the one or more interactions is suspicious based on metadata associated with the at least one interaction; and

program instructions to generate risk topics with the at least one interaction of the one or more interactions that has been determined to be suspicious.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to compare the generated risk topics with the at least one interaction to a risk access table to identify a specified level of risk associated with the at least one interaction.

12. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to monitor user activity for one or more user interactions performed while connected to a Virtual Private Network (VPN);

program instructions to determine a respective user interaction of the one or more user interactions deviates from established user interactions based on a user's profile, location, time of day, and data collected from the user's device using natural language classification and natural language understanding classification module;

program instructions to, in response to determining a respective user interaction of the one or more user interactions deviates from established user interactions, initiating a secondary authentication protocol comprising:

program instructions to generate a topic associated with the user interaction of the one or more user interactions that deviates from established user interactions and in response to the generated topic,

program instructions to, in response to generating a topic associated with the user interaction of the one or more user interactions being classified as having a high-risk potential, calculate a real-time risk score for the associated user interaction based on a user impact score and immediacy of the user interaction, and

program instructions to, in response to the calculated real-time risk score for the user interaction reaching a risk threshold, initiate a mid-connection, step-up authentication; and

program instructions to, in response to a failed mid-connection, step-up authentication of the user's identity, terminate connection to the VPN.

13. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to re-authenticate the user's identity before allowing an action to perform the respective user interaction via a company-issued mobile device mobile connecting to a respective VPN.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to randomly select an authentication measure from the group consisting: a traditional password authentication, biometric authentication, single sign-on authentication, two-factor authentication, and token authentication.

15. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to identify potential risks associated with a user and respective user interactions, wherein the program instruction to identify potential risks associated with a user and respective user interactions comprise:

program instructions to generate a user risk impact potential score based on a user's profile by assigning weighted values to one or more categories comprising: access to sensitive information, communication patterns demonstrating access to management, decision making ability, transactions, and system admin capabilities;

program instructions to determine at least one interaction of the one or more interactions is suspicious based on metadata associated with the at least one interaction; and

program instructions to generate risk topics with the at least one interaction of the one or more interactions that has been determined to be suspicious.

16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to compare the generated risk topics with the at least one interaction to a risk access table to identify a specified level of risk associated with the at least one interaction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2021
From: COVELL, JACOB THOMAS; SANDRIDGE, THOMAS JEFFERSON; ZHANG, ALVIN; GRANT, ROBERT HUNTINGTON
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057229/0532 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230058138A1 · Feb 23, 2023