Networks Associates Technology, Inc.

David L Sames

Gregg W Tally

Brent S Whitmore

Brian Niebuhr

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for managing security policies in a distributed computing system. Security policies include, but are not limited to, a firewall policy, a policy for file access, a policy for application access, a policy for an encryption algorithm, a policy for audit trails, and a policy for activity logging. These security policies determine access rights to a computer application. The system operates by creating multiple security policies with individual security policies specifying a differing level of security for the distributed computing system. These security policies are then distributed to each computer in the distributed computing system. Next, a specific security policy is selected for use across the distributed computing system, and each computer in the distributed computing system is directed to use the specified security policy enforcing a selected security posture.

Method and apparatus for securely and dynamically modifying security policy configurations in a distributed system

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for managing user attributes that determines access rights in a distributed computing system. The system modifies an attribute database, wherein the attribute database includes a plurality of possible user attributes and a plurality of users. Next, for a given user the system obtains an identity certificate from a certificate authority. This identity certificate is associated with a user from the attribute database. The system also assigns an attribute to the user from the possible user attributes, whereby the user is granted access rights based on the attribute and the identity certificate. This attribute is stored in the attribute database. Finally, modifications to the attribute database are distributed to a plurality of hosts coupled together by a network.

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Woodbine, MD, United States of America

David L Sames