Efficient implementation of security applications in a networked environment

Abstract

Community based defense, in which multiple security devices operate as a part of a single community in providing security defense i.e. avoiding redundant security checks and enables efficient deployment and utilization of resources. The devices in a community communicate with each other to determine their roles and the security policies to enforce, based on the specific role they have undertaken. Thus primary player may operate with a larger set of security policies. However, the secondary players (operating on smaller policy sets) may periodically check the operational status of the primary player and assumes the role of primary, if needed. Later, it may gracefully relinquish the temporary role back to former primary, once the primary is up and operational.