Security actuator for a dynamically programmable computer network

Abstract

A network security policy may be implemented at network switches as a set of active packet disposition directives. In a dynamically programmable network, the network switches can be dynamically reprogrammed with packet disposition directives. A security actuator receives flow policy directives from a number of network applications. The flow policy directives express higher-level network security policy goals, including blocking and/or redirecting network traffic. The security actuator converts a flow policy directive into one or more packet disposition directives. The packet disposition directives may include trigger rules to cause network communications to be monitored for matching trigger packets. An automated mechanism initiated by the security actuator may cause trigger packets to be forwarded to the security actuator for analysis. The security actuator may generate packet disposition directives in response to receiving the trigger packets.