IP Library Granted Patent US 12,034,698
Granted Patent B2
US 12,034,698 · App. 17/564,927 · Granted Jul 9, 2024

Systems and methods for providing enhanced security in edge computing environments

Inventors: Christopher Smith (Broomfield, CO); Michael Benjamin (Broomfield, CO); Peter Brecl (Highlands Ranch, CO)
Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
H04L63/0236H04L63/1416H04L63/1425H04L63/1441
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,034,698
App. No.
17/564,927
Granted
Jul 9, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for providing enhanced security in edge computing environments. A first aspect describes a method for moving security features dynamically applied to an application at a first deployment location to an application at a second deployment location. A second aspect describes a method for locally expanding/contracting an instance of a deployed application. A third aspect describes a method for redirected network traffic associated with detected malicious conduct from a first application deployment environment to a secured second application deployment environment. A fourth aspect describes a method for performing multi-stage network traffic filtering.

Claims (80)

1. A method comprising:

applying static security features to a first instance of an application operating at a first edge computing environment of a system;

applying first dynamic security features to the first instance of the application, wherein the first dynamic security features are dynamically determined based on dynamic information specific to operation of the first instance of the application at the first edge computing environment;

instantiating a second instance of the application at a second edge computing environment of the system, including:

identifying the first dynamic security features; and

applying the static security features and the first dynamic security features to the second instance of the application at the second edge computing environment; and

redirecting at least some traffic from the first instance of the application to the second instance of the application,

wherein the system includes a third instance of an application operating at a third edge computing environment of the system, further comprising:

applying the static security features to the third instance of an application; and

applying third dynamic security features to the third instance of the application, wherein the third dynamic security features are based on dynamic information specific to operation of the third instance of the application at the third edge computing environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing the first instance of the application from the first edge computing environment.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to instantiating the second instance of the application:

evaluating performance data related to the first instance of the application or the first edge computing environment; and

determining that the performance data exceeds a threshold;

wherein instantiating the second instance of the application is based on determining that the performance data exceeds the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first dynamic security features comprise one or more of: DDoS mitigation features, firewall analysis features, user analysis features, and data loss prevention features.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the first dynamic security features comprises determining that the first instance of the application is experiencing a cyberattack, identifying source-identifying data for attacking devices, dynamically blocking traffic from the attacking devices, and applying security protections for the detected cyberattack, wherein the source-identifying data comprises one or more of:

user identifying information comprising one or more of a username, user identifier, or account identifier;

device identifying information comprising one or more of a device name, IP address, or media access control (MAC) address; or

originating network/region information comprising one or more of network trace information or packet header information.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

periodically storing the first dynamic security features at a core system storage;

wherein applying the first dynamic security features to the second instance of the application at the second edge computing environment comprises copying the first dynamic security features from the core system storage.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second edge computing environment comprises a secured computing environment that prevents untrusted entities from inspecting the secured computing environment, further comprising:

identifying an attacker of the first application instance;

wherein redirecting at least some traffic from the first instance of the application to the second instance of the application comprising redirecting only traffic from the identified attacker.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the first dynamic security features to the second instance of the application at the second edge computing environment comprises:

determining a first component of the second edge computing environment to perform filtering of the at least some traffic;

filtering the at least some traffic with the first component;

monitoring performance data for the second edge computing environment; and

based on the performance data for the second edge computing environment, causing a second component of the second edge computing environment to begin filtering the at least some traffic.

9. A system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory, operatively connected to the processor, the memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform a method, the method comprising:

applying static security features to a first instance of an application operating at a first edge computing environment of a system;

applying first dynamic security features to the first instance of the application, wherein the first dynamic security features are dynamically determined based on dynamic information specific to operation of the first instance of the application at the first edge computing environment;

instantiating a second instance of the application, including:

identifying the first dynamic security features; and

applying the static security features and the first dynamic security features to the second instance of the application; and

redirecting at least some traffic from the first instance of the application to the second instance of the application,

wherein the system includes a third instance of an application operating at a third edge computing environment of the system, the method further comprising:

applying the static security features to the third instance of an application; and

applying third dynamic security features to the third instance of the application, wherein the third dynamic security features are based on dynamic information specific to operation of the third instance of the application at the third edge computing environment.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:

removing the first instance of the application from the first edge computing environment.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises, prior to instantiating the second instance of the application:

evaluating performance data related to the first instance of the application or the first edge computing environment; and

determining that the performance data exceeds a threshold;

wherein instantiating the second instance of the application is based on determining that the performance data exceeds the threshold.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first dynamic security features comprise one or more of: DDoS mitigation features, firewall analysis features, user analysis features, and data loss prevention features.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein applying the first dynamic security features comprises determining that the first instance of the application is experiencing a cyberattack, identifying source-identifying data for attacking devices, dynamically blocking traffic from the attacking devices, and applying security protections for the detected cyberattack, wherein the source-identifying data comprises one or more of:

user identifying information comprising one or more of a username, user identifier, or account identifier;

device identifying information comprising one or more of a device name, IP address, or media access control (MAC) address; or

originating network/region information comprising one or more of network trace information or packet header information.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:

periodically storing the first dynamic security features at a core system storage;

wherein applying the first dynamic security features to the second instance of the application comprises copying the first dynamic security features from the core system storage.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein instantiating a second instance of the application comprises instantiating the second instance of the application at a second edge computing environment that comprises a secured computing environment that prevents untrusted entities from inspecting the secured computing environment.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

identifying an attacker of the first application instance;

wherein redirecting at least some traffic from the first instance of the application to the second instance of the application comprising redirecting only traffic from the identified attacker.

17. A method comprising:

applying static security features to a first instance of an application operating at a first edge computing environment of a system;

operating the first instance of the application at the first edge computing environment;

collecting dynamic information relating to operating the first instance of the application at the first edge computing environment;

applying first dynamic security features to the first instance of the application, wherein the first dynamic security features are dynamically determined based on the collected dynamic information;

evaluating performance data related to the first instance of the application or the first edge computing environment; and

determining that the performance data exceeds a threshold;

instantiating, based on determining that the performance data exceeds the threshold, a second instance of the application at a second edge computing environment of the system, including:

identifying the first dynamic security features; and

applying the static security features and the first dynamic security features to the second instance of the application at the second edge computing environment; and

redirecting at least some traffic from the first instance of the application to the second instance of the application,

wherein the system includes a third instance of an application operating at a third edge computing environment of the system, the method further comprising:

applying the static security features to the third instance of an application; and

applying third dynamic security features to the third instance of the application, wherein the third dynamic security features are based on dynamic information specific to operation of the third instance of the application at the third edge computing environment.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein applying the first dynamic security features comprises determining that the first instance of the application is experiencing a cyberattack, identifying source-identifying data for attacking devices, dynamically blocking traffic from the attacking devices, and applying security protections for the detected cyberattack, wherein the source-identifying data comprises one or more of:

user identifying information comprising one or more of a username, user identifier, or account identifier;

device identifying information comprising one or more of a device name, IP address, or media access control (MAC) address; or

originating network/region information comprising one or more of network trace information or packet header information.

Assignments (2)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0749 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0858 →