Method and apparatus for a centrally managed network virus detection and outbreak protection

1. A method for configuring a virus detection of a plurality of different network elements in a communication network, comprising:

monitoring, by a processor, a respective attribute of each one of the plurality of different network elements, wherein the respective attribute is different for each one of the plurality of different network elements, wherein the respective attribute is based on a performance and a type of a network element of the plurality of different network elements associated with the respective attribute;

detecting, by the processor, the respective attribute of one or more of the plurality of different network elements breaches at least one respective threshold;

configuring, by the processor, each one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements to reduce a number of virus detection processes of the virus detection in accordance with a respective type of network element; and

resuming, by the processor, a normal virus detection for each one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements when the respective attribute of a respective one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements does not breach the respective threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor is deployed as part of a central server in communication with the each one of the plurality of different network elements.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the respective attribute comprises at least one of: being part of a trusted network, a last network connected to, a throughput, an available bandwidth, an environmental sustainability, a number of virus detections, available processing resources, a memory usage, an environment awareness or transmissions to and from a trusted source.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one respective threshold comprises a single threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one respective threshold comprises a plurality of thresholds.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different network elements comprises a personal computer (PC), a laptop, a tape drive, a storage area network, an access point, a network switch, a mobile device, a tablet computer, a multifunction device, a server, a firewall or an internet connected smart device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuring comprises:

maintaining, by the processor, the virus detection for a reduced number of potential viruses compared to the normal virus detection including one or more targeted viruses.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuring comprises:

reducing, by the processor, the number of virus detection processes to a specific portion of the each one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resuming comprises requiring the respective attribute to be below the at least one respective threshold for a duration of a back-off timer before resuming the normal virus detection.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for configuring a virus detection of a plurality of different network elements in a communication network, the operations comprising:

monitoring a respective attribute of each one of the plurality of different network elements, wherein the respective attribute is different for each one of the plurality of different network elements, wherein the respective attribute is based on a performance and a type of a network element of the plurality of different network elements associated with the respective attribute;

detecting the respective attribute of one or more of the plurality of different network elements breaches at least one respective threshold;

configuring each one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements to reduce a number of virus detection processes of the virus detection in accordance with a respective type of network element; and

resuming a normal virus detection for each one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements when the respective attribute of a respective one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements does not breach the respective threshold.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the respective attribute comprises at least one of: being part of a trusted network, a last network connected to, a throughput, an available bandwidth, an environmental sustainability, a number of virus detections, available processing resources, a memory usage, an environment awareness or transmissions to and from a trusted source.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the at least one respective threshold comprises a single threshold.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the at least one respective threshold comprises a plurality of thresholds.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of different network elements comprises a personal computer (PC), a laptop, a tape drive, a storage area network, an access point, a network switch, a mobile device, a tablet computer, a multifunction device, a server, a firewall or an Internet connected smart device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the configuring comprises:

maintaining, by the processor, the virus detection for a reduced number of potential viruses compared to the normal virus detection including one or more targeted viruses.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the configuring comprises:

reducing, by the processor, the number of virus detection processes to a specific portion of the each one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the resuming comprises requiring the attribute to be below the at least one respective threshold for a duration of a back-off timer before resuming the normal virus detection.

18. A method for configuring a virus detection of a plurality of different network elements in a communication network, comprising:

monitoring, by a processor, a respective attribute of each one of the plurality of network elements, wherein the attribute is different for each one of the plurality of different network elements, wherein the respective attribute is based on a performance and a type of a network element of the plurality of different network elements associated with the respective attribute;

detecting, by the processor, the respective attribute of one or more of the plurality of different network elements breaches a respective threshold;

configuring, by the processor, each one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements to reduce a number of virus detection processes of the virus detection to detect a reduced number of potential viruses compared to a normal virus detection process for a specific portion of the each one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements in accordance with a type of network element; and

detecting, by the processor, the respective attribute of a respective one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements does not breach the respective threshold;

determining, by the processor, the respective attribute continues to not breach the respective threshold for a duration of a back-off timer; and

resuming, by the processor, a normal virus detection for the respective one of the one or more of the plurality of different network elements.