Securing communication over a network using client system authorization and dynamically assigned proxy servers

• US 9,065,856 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vidder, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Islam, Junaid, Bilger, Brent, Schroeder, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl, Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEHESHTI SHIRAZI, SAYED ARESH
• Application Number:
  US13/794,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4, 726/5, 726/7, 726/12, 713/155, 713/156, 713/158, 713/170
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/69 using geographic information, e.g. room number
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1433 Vulnerability analysis
• 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 67/562 Brokering proxy services

Abstract

A method for securing communication over a network is disclosed. A trust broker system receives a request to connect to applications and resources from a client system. The trust broker system determines whether the client system is authorized to connect to the requested applications and resources. In response to determining the client system has authorization to connect to the requested applications and resources, the trust broker system determines, from a plurality of potential proxy servers, a proxy server associated with the requested server system and transmits an identification value for the client system to the requested server system. The trust broker system then transmits the identification value to the client system and transmits contact information for the determined proxy server to the client system, wherein all communication between the client system and the requested server system passes through the proxy server.

Claims

1. A method for providing secure access to network resources, comprising:

at a trust broker system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, wherein the trust broker system enables a client system to connect to a server system through a secure communication session;

receiving, from the client system, a request to access network applications and resources associated with and hosted by the server system;

locating a first virtual domain of a plurality of virtual domains, wherein;

each virtual domain provides a respective logical set of network applications and resources, distinct from other virtual domains, wherein a respective logical set of network applications and information corresponds to a subset of network resources provided by the server system, and

the first virtual domain provides the requested network applications and resources;

determining whether the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources, including;

determining the identity of a user associated with the client system; and

determining whether the user associated with the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources, including

retrieving stored permissions of the user associated with the client system; and

determining, based on the stored permissions associated with the user, that the user is permitted to access the first virtual domain;

in response to determining that the client system has authorization to access the requested network applications and resources;

determining, from a plurality of potential proxy servers, a proxy server associated with the server system;

transmitting an identification value for the client system to the determined proxy server, wherein the identification value is an encrypted value identifying the client system;

transmitting the identification value to the client system; and

transmitting, to the client system, contact information for connecting to the determined proxy server, wherein all communication between the client system and the server system associated with the requested network applications and resources passes through the determined proxy server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a proxy server associated with the server system further includes:

determining the specific server system associated with the requested network applications and resources by examining a lookup table stored on the trust broker system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining a proxy server associated with the server system further includes:

determining the proxy server currently associated with the determined server system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources further includes:

verifying hardware and/or software integrity of the client system; and

verifying the identity of the user associated with the client system, including receiving a unique user identifier that is encrypted with a one-time session-based key that is changed for each communication session.

4. An electronic device for providing secure access to network resources, wherein the electronic device comprises a trust broker system which enables a client system to connect to a server system through a secure communication session, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

receiving, from the client system, a request to access network applications and resources associated with and hosted by the server system;

locating a first virtual domain of a plurality of virtual domains, wherein;

each virtual domain provides a respective logical set of network applications and resources, distinct from other virtual domains, wherein a respective logical set of network applications and information corresponds to a subset of network resources provided by the server system, and

the first virtual domain provides the requested network applications and resources;

determining whether the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources, including;

determining the identity of a user associated with the client system; and

determining whether the user associated with the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources, including

retrieving stored permissions of the user associated with the client system; and

determining, based on the stored permissions associated with the user, that the user is permitted to access the first virtual domain;

in response to determining that the client system has authorization to access the requested network applications and resources;

determining, from a plurality of potential proxy servers, a proxy server associated with the server system;

transmitting an identification value for the client system to the determined proxy server, wherein the identification value is an encrypted value identifying the client system;

transmitting the identification value to the client system; and

transmitting, to the client system, contact information for connecting to the determined proxy server, wherein all communication between the client system and the server system associated with the requested network applications and resources passes through the determined proxy server.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the instructions for determining a proxy server associated with the server system further include instructions for:

determining the specific server system associated with the requested network applications and resources by examining a lookup table stored on the trust broker system.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions for determining a proxy server associated with the server system further include instructions for:

determining the proxy server currently associated with the determined server system.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the instructions determining whether the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources further include instructions for:

verifying hardware and/or software integrity of the client system; and

verifying the identity of the user associated with the client system, including receiving a unique user identifier that is encrypted with a one-time session-based key that is changed for each communication session.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a trust broker system which enables a client system to connect to a server system through a secure communication session, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

receiving, from the client system, a request to access network applications and resources associated with and hosted by the server system;

locating a first virtual domain of a plurality of virtual domains, wherein;

each virtual domain provides a respective logical set of network applications and resources, distinct from other virtual domains, wherein a respective logical set of network applications and information corresponds to a subset of network resources provided by the server system, and

the first virtual domain provides the requested network applications and resources;

determining whether the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources, including;

determining the identity of a user associated with the client system; and

determining whether the user associated with the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources, including

retrieving stored permissions of the user associated with the client system; and

determining, based on the stored permissions associated with the user, that the user is permitted to access the first virtual domain;

in response to determining that the client system has authorization to access the requested network applications and resources;

determining, from a plurality of potential proxy servers, a proxy server associated with the server system;

transmitting an identification value for the client system to the determined proxy server, wherein the identification value is an encrypted value identifying the client system;

transmitting the identification value to the client system; and

transmitting, to the client system, contact information for connecting to the determined proxy server, wherein all communication between the client system and the server system associated with the requested network applications and resources passes through the determined proxy server.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions for determining a proxy server associated with the server system further include instructions for:

determining the specific server system associated with the requested network applications and resources by examining a lookup table stored on the trust broker system.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions for determining a proxy server associated with the server system further include instructions for:

determining the proxy server currently associated with the determined server system.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions determining whether the client system is authorized to access the requested network applications and resources further include instructions for:

verifying hardware and/or software integrity of the client system; and

verifying the identity of the user associated with the client system, including receiving a unique user identifier that is encrypted with a one-time session-based key that is changed for each communication session.