IP Library Granted Patent US 9,509,660
Granted Patent B2
US 9,509,660 · App. 14/727,623 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

Systems and methods for dynamic network security control and configuration

Inventors: Malcolm Rieke (Santa Cruz, CA); James Sebastian Dennis (Scotts Valley, CA); Michael Berman (Scotts Valley, CA)
Assignee: CATBIRD NETWORKS, INC.
H04L63/0227H04L63/02H04L63/0236H04L63/0263H04L63/1433H04L63/20
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 9,509,660
App. No.
14/727,623
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes identifying, by a computer system, an asset associated with a logical zone; detecting a change in an attribute of the asset; and in response to detecting the change in the attribute of the asset, modifying, by the computer system, a configuration setting for a firewall. Among other things, the embodiments of the present disclosure can perform dynamically configure and control security features in response to changes in the computing environment, including asset attribute changes, security events, operational events, user input and environmental changes. Embodiments of the present disclosure thereby help to quickly maintain or change the security posture of a system and maintain the level of compliance with set of predefined security benchmarks or codified best practices.

Claims (60)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

storing, in at least one database, data regarding a plurality of logical zones, each logical zone associated with a grouping of assets;

identifying, by at least one processor, an asset associated with a first logical zone;

storing, in the at least one database, data regarding the asset, the data comprising attribute data for the asset;

detecting a change in an attribute of the asset; and

in response to detecting the change in the attribute of the asset:

modifying, by the at least one processor, a configuration setting for a firewall, and

moving the asset from the first logical zone to a second logical zone, the moving comprising updating information in the at least one database to indicate that the asset is a member of the second logical zone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asset includes one or more of a physical component and a virtual component.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a plurality of assets associated with the first logical zone;

detecting a change in an attribute for a first asset in the plurality of assets;

detecting a change in an attribute for a second asset in the plurality of assets; and

in response to the detected attribute changes for the first asset and the second asset, modifying the configuration setting for the firewall.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

establishing a connection with an asset management component configured to manage functionality of the asset, wherein the change in the attribute for the asset is detected via communication with the asset management component; and

establishing a connection with a firewall management component configured to manage functionality of the firewall, wherein the configuration setting for the firewall is modified via communication with the firewall management component.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a plurality of assets associated with the first logical zone, wherein identifying the plurality of assets includes:

establishing a connection with an asset management component configured to manage functionality of the plurality of assets; and

querying the asset management component to identify each of the plurality of assets.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein detecting the change in the attribute for the asset includes periodically querying the asset management component to identify the change in the asset.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein detecting the change in the attribute for the asset includes receiving a communication regarding the change from the asset management component.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating a security policy with the first logical zone, wherein modifying the configuration setting for the firewall is performed in accordance with the security policy.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the change in the attribute of the asset includes detecting a change in an internet protocol address for the asset.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the change in the attribute of the asset includes detecting a move of the asset from the first logical zone to another logical zone.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the configuration setting of the firewall includes allowing communication between the asset and a second asset.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the configuration setting of the firewall includes preventing communication between the asset and a second asset.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a security vulnerability associated with the asset;

in response to detecting the security vulnerability, moving the asset from the first logical zone to a predefined logical zone, wherein the asset has less access to other assets than it had in the first logical zone;

detecting a correction to the security vulnerability with the asset; and

in response to detecting the correction to the security vulnerability, moving the asset from the predefined logical zone to the first logical zone.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating a compliance policy with the first logical zone;

analyzing the modification of the configuration setting for the firewall based on the compliance policy; and

determining a level of compliance based on the comparison.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the level of compliance includes determining a compliance score for one or more of the asset, the firewall, and the first logical zone.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising displaying, via a user interface in communication with a computer system comprising the at least one processor, a graphical representation of the compliance score.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising displaying a plurality of compliance scores that correspond to a respective plurality of security controls in the compliance policy.

18. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to:

store, in at least one database, data regarding a plurality of logical zones, each logical zone associated with a grouping of assets;

identify, by at least one processor, an asset associated with a first logical zone;

store, in the at least one database, data regarding the asset, the data comprising attribute data for the asset;

detect a change in an attribute of the asset; and

in response to detecting the change in the attribute of the asset:

modify, by the at least one processor, a configuration setting for a firewall, and

move the asset from the first logical zone to a second logical zone, the moving comprising updating information in the at least one database to indicate that the asset is a member of the second logical zone.

19. A system comprising:

at least one database;

at least one processor; and

memory in communication with the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

store, in the at least one database, data regarding a plurality of logical zones, each logical zone associated with a grouping of assets;

identify an asset associated with a first logical zone;

store, in the at least one database, data regarding the asset, the data comprising attribute data for the asset;

detect a change in an attribute of the asset; and

in response to detecting the change in the attribute of the asset:

modify a configuration setting for a firewall, and

move the asset from the first logical zone to a second logical zone, the moving comprising updating information in the at least one database to indicate that the asset is a member of the second logical zone.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: APPGATE CYBERSECURITY, INC.; CRYPTZONE NORTH AMERICA INC.; EASY SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES CORP.; CATBIRD NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068311/0970 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: SIS HOLDINGS, L.P.
To: APPGATE CYBERSECURITY, INC.; CRYPTZONE NORTH AMERICA INC.; EASY SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES CORP.; CATBIRD NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068312/0011 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: APPGATE FUNDING, LLC
To: APPGATE CYBERSECURITY, INC.; CRYPTZONE NORTH AMERICA INC.; EASY SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES CORP.; CATBIRD NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068311/0570 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2023
From: APPGATE CYBERSECURITY, INC.; CRYPTZONE NORTH AMERICA INC.; EASY SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES CORP.; CATBIRD NETWORKS, INC.
To: APPGATE FUNDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 064672/0383 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: APPGATE CYBERSECURITY, INC.; CRYPTZONE NORTH AMERICA INC.; EASY SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES CORP.; CATBIRD NETWORKS, INC.
To: SIS HOLDINGS, L.P.
Reel/Frame 064461/0539 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2023
From: APPGATE CYBERSECURITY, INC.; CRYPTZONE NORTH AMERICA INC.; EASY SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES CORP.; CATBIRD NETWORKS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063956/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2015
From: RIEKE, MALCOLM; DENNIS, JAMES; BERMAN, MICHAEL
To: CATBIRD NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036795/0059 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13918633 · Jun 14, 2013
Provisional Application 61830003 · May 31, 2013
Related Publication 20150264012A1 · Sep 17, 2015