System and method of recommending policies that result in particular reputation scores for hosts

• US 10,009,240 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Supreeth Hosur Nagesh, Kulshreshtha, Ashutosh, Madani, Omid, Pang, Jackson Ngoc Ki, Yadav, Navindra
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Michael S
• Application Number:
  US15/172,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20160359917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 726 1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1744 using compression, e.g. sparse files
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2322 using timestamps
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/4557 Distribution of virtual machine instances; Migration and load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45587 Isolation or security of virtual machine instances
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45595 : Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/552 : involving long-term monitoring or reporting
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/566 : Dynamic detection, i.e. detection performed at run-time, e.g. emulation, suspicious activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/033 : Test or assess software
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 : Third party
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 : Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 : Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
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• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0661 : using timestamps
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• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/242 : by comparing a transmitted test signal with a locally generated replica
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 : comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0668 : by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 : Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 : for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 : the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 : Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 : Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 : Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/16 : using machine learning or artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 : using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/02 : Capturing of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 : using flow identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 : Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 : for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/062 : related to network traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 : Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0805 : by checking availability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 : by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 : Packet loss
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• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0864 : Round trip delays
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• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 : Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 : Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 : Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 : using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 : Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 : Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/20 : the monitoring system or the monitored elements being virtualised, abstracted or software-defined entities, e.g. SDN or NFV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 : Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/38 : Flow based routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/46 : Cluster building
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• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/66 : Layer 2 routing, e.g. in Ethernet based MAN's
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 : Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 : Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 : relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2483 : involving identification of individual flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/28 : in relation to timing considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/31 : by tagging of packets, e.g. using discard eligibility [DE] bits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 : by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 : Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 : Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0263 : Rule management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 : for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 : by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 : Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1425 : Traffic logging, e.g. anomaly detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1433 : Vulnerability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1441 : Countermeasures against malicious traffic countermeasures against attacks on cryptographic mechanisms H04L9/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 : the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1458 : Denial of Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1466 : Active attacks involving interception, injection, modification, spoofing of data unit addresses, e.g. hijacking, packet injection or TCP sequence number attacks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/16 : Implementing security features at a particular protocol layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 : for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 : Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 : Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/10 : Arrangements for initial synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 : involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3239 : involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3242 : involving keyed hash functions, e.g. message authentication codes [MACs], CBC-MAC or HMAC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 : based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method provides for associating reputation scores with policies, stacks and hosts within a network and upon receiving information about a newly provisioned entity (such as a host or a stack), recommending a policy scheme for the newly provisioned entity that will result in a particular reputation score of the reputation scores. The method further includes implementing the policy scheme for the newly provisioned entity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating reputation scores with policies, stacks and hosts within a network, wherein the reputation scores are based at least in part on data received from a first capturing agent at a physical layer in a network, a second capturing agent at a hypervisor layer in the network, and a third capturing agent at a virtual layer of the network;

upon receiving information about a newly provisioned entity, recommending a policy scheme for the newly provisioned entity that will result in a particular reputation score of the reputation scores; and

implementing the policy scheme for the newly provisioned entity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the particular reputation score of the newly provisioned entity falls below a threshold amount, isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network, analyzing traffic from other hosts similar to the newly provisioned entity with increased scrutiny.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network further comprises removing the newly provisioned entity from the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple policies result in the particular reputation score.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, when the multiple policies result in the particular reputation score, the policy scheme that is recommended comprises a least restrictive policy of the multiply policies.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the newly provisioned entity comprises one of a host and a stack.

8. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

associating reputation scores with policies, stacks and hosts within a network, wherein the reputation scores are based at least in part on data received from a first capturing agent at a physical layer in a network, a second capturing agent at a hypervisor layer in the network, and a third capturing device at a virtual layer of the network;

upon receiving information about a newly provisioned entity, recommending a policy scheme for the newly provisioned entity that will result in a particular reputation score of the reputation scores; and

implementing the policy scheme for the newly provisioned entity.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising further comprising:

when the particular reputation score of the newly provisioned entity falls below a threshold amount, isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising further comprising:

after isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network, analyzing traffic from other hosts similar to the newly provisioned entity with increased scrutiny.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network further comprises removing the newly provisioned entity from the network.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein multiple policies result in the particular reputation score.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein, when the multiple policies result in the particular reputation score, the policy scheme that is recommended comprises a least restrictive policy of the multiply policies.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the newly provisioned entity comprises one of a host and a stack.

15. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

associating reputation scores with policies, stacks and hosts within a network, wherein the reputation scores are based at least in part on data received from a first capturing agent at a physical layer in a network, a second capturing agent at a hypervisor layer in the network, and a third capturing device at a virtual layer of the network;

upon receiving information about a newly provisioned entity, recommending a policy scheme for the newly provisioned entity that will result in a particular reputation score of the reputation scores; and

implementing the policy scheme for the newly provisioned entity.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable storage device stores further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising further comprising:

when the particular reputation score of the newly provisioned entity falls below a threshold amount, isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable storage device stores further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising further comprising:

after isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network, analyzing traffic from other hosts similar to the newly provisioned entity with increased scrutiny.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein isolating the newly provisioned entity from the network further comprises removing the newly provisioned entity from the network.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein multiple policies result in the particular reputation score.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein, when the multiple policies result in the particular reputation score, the policy scheme that is recommended comprises a least restrictive policy of the multiply policies.