Novell, Inc.

Apple Inc.

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

3com Corporation

Brent Beachem

Merrill Brooks Smith

Michael D Wright

Brant David Thomsen

Peter Boucher

Gabe Nault

Jonathan Brett Wood

Thomas M Wheeler

Richard Rollins

Steven S McLain

Richard B Rollins

Neil R Shaw

The present invention filters access points presented to a user and locks onto an access point and includes an access point filtering unit and an access point locking unit. The access point filtering unit determines the access points that are accessible by a client device and then filters them to present only the access points that are acceptable to under a security policy in force. The access point locking unit has a plurality of operating modes and can lock onto a user selected access point, a security policy prescribed access point, or the access point with the best signal profile. The present invention also includes a method for filtering access points and a method for locking onto an access point that is selected by the user, that has the best signal profile, or that is prescribed by a security policy for a given location.

System and method for filtering access points presented to a user and locking onto an access point

The present invention filters access points presented to a user and locks onto an access point. The present invention includes an access point filtering unit and an access point locking unit. The access point filtering unit determines the access points that are accessible by a client device and then filters them to present only the access points that are acceptable to under a security policy in force. The access point locking unit has a plurality of operating modes and can lock onto a user selected access point, a security policy prescribed access point, or the access point with the best signal profile. The present invention also includes several methods such as: a method for filtering access points for presentation to the user, a method for locking onto an access point selected by the user, a method for locking onto an access point with the best signal profile, and a method for locking onto an access point prescribed by a security policy for a given location.

Methods and apparatus involve protecting data encrypted by a first key on an endpoint computing asset including a drive with full disk encryption. The endpoint has both a main operating system for applications, and the like, and another operating system during a pre-boot phase of operation. During use, the pre-boot operating system prevents a user of the endpoint from accessing the encrypted data and the key. In one embodiment, an information exchange partition on the endpoint is accessible from a remote location and includes data encrypted using a second key accessible to both the pre-boot operating system and the main operating system. Another embodiment allows for the provision of a network connection to the endpoint during the pre-boot phase of operation in accordance with a security policy.

Remote management of endpoint computing device with full disk encryption

Methods and apparatus involve securing a network connection by way of mobile, endpoint computing assets. The endpoints have one or more pre-defined security policies governing the connection that are balanced against competing interests of actually maintaining connections between devices, especially in WiMAX, MANET, MESH, or other ad hoc computing environments where poor security, signal strength, fragile connections or mobility issues are of traditional concern. In this manner, connections will not be lost over security enforcement in an otherwise hostile environment. The security policies are enforced in a variety of ways, but may be altered to lesser policies or not-so-strictly enforced so as to maintain satisfactory connections between devices. Other embodiments contemplate analyzing connectivity components before connection and selecting only those components that enable full or best compliance with the policies. Still other embodiments contemplate altering connections in order to maintain full enforcement of policies. Computer program products are also disclosed.

Securing a network connection by way of an endpoint computing device

Methods and apparatus involve protecting encrypted data of endpoint computing assets by managing decryption keys. The endpoint has both a traditional operating system for applications, and the like, and another operating system during a pre-boot phase of operation. During use, the pre-boot operating system prevents users of the endpoint from accessing the encrypted data and the key. Upon determining the encrypted data has been compromised, the key is disassociated from the encrypted data. Disassociation can occur in a variety of ways including deleting or scrambling the key and/or data or re-encrypting the encrypted data with a new key. Key escrowing and updating through the pre-boot is further contemplated. The pre-boot phase also contemplates a limited computing connection between the endpoint and a specified authentication server and approved networking ports, USB devices and biometric equipment. Security policies and enforcement modules are also disclosed as are computer program products, computing arrangements, etc.

Key management to protect encrypted data of an endpoint computing device

Methods and apparatus involve evaluating endpoint computing assets. The endpoint has both a traditional operating system for applications, and the like, and another operating system during a pre-boot phase of operation. During use, the traditional operating system identifies a last evaluation status of the computing device at a time just prior to shutting down. Upon a next booting, the pre-boot operating system loads and examines [reads] the last evaluation status. If the last evaluation status requires any completion action in order to comply with a predetermined computing policy, either or both the operating systems attend to its effectuation, including communication/handoff by way of one or more security agents. In a variety of ways, effectuation occurs by: determining a present location of the computing device, quarantining the computing device from certain network traffic; VPN enforcement; patching applications; firewall involvement; etc. Computer program products are also disclosed.

Pre-boot securing of operating system (OS) for endpoint evaluation

Methods and apparatus enforce a secure internet connection from a mobiles endpoint computing device. A security policy for the endpoint is defined based on its location. From that location, an internet connection is established and detected. This event triggers the launching of a full VPN tunnel connection including an NDIS firewall forcing packet traffic through a port of the endpoint computing device assigned by the security policy and/or MAC/IP addresses of a VPN concentrator. Thereafter, the packet traffic is monitored for compliance with the security policy. This includes determining whether packet traffic over the assigned port is observed within a given time or packet traffic is attempted over other ports. Monitoring occurs whether or not the protocol of the VPN tunnel connection is known. Other features contemplate quarantining for improper operation of the VPN tunnel, undertaking remediation, and computer program products, to name a few.

Enforcing secure internet connections for a mobile endpoint computing device

Secure communications on a network. An unauthenticated client on an network sends start packets to locate other clients. The unauthenticated client receives responses to the start packets from other clients on the network. The responses may be advertise packets that are from advertising clients that may be authenticated clients or other unauthenticated clients in authenticated mode. The unauthenticated client prioritizes the received packets so that authentication can be performed with the most desirable advertising client. Authentication packets are sent and received between the unauthenticated client and the advertising client in an attempt to authenticate.

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Riverton, UT, United States of America

Brent Beachem