Adaptive network traffic classification

Abstract

Devices and methods for adaptively classifying network traffic associated with a new application are provided. A network device, for example, an edge device, stores a Machine Learning (ML) model pre-trained based on historical network traffic associated with a set of applications. The network device receives network traffic associated with a new application, for example, a zero-day application, that is different from the set of applications. The ML model learns one or more patterns associated with the received network traffic. The ML model detects whether the learned pattern(s) is similar to previously learned patterns of at least one application. The ML model classifies the received network traffic as legitimate traffic or anomalous traffic based on the detection. The ML model is scalable, providing timely classifications for different types of network traffic, while handling protocol and application diversity, variability in traffic patterns, and emergence of zero-day application traffic.