Systems and methods for performing risk analysis

Abstract

A method for analyzing a network element may include assigning values to each of a plurality of vulnerabilities. The method may also include identifying a vulnerability associated with the network element and generating a risk indicator for the network element based on the assigned value associated with the identified vulnerability.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 assigning values to each of a plurality of security-related vulnerabilities, each of the values being based on at least one of a function or location of a network element;   monitoring a first one of a plurality of network elements;   identifying at least one security-related vulnerability associated with the first network element; and   generating a risk indicator for the first network element based on an assigned value associated with the identified at least one security-related vulnerability.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring comprises:
 scanning the first network element to identify security-related vulnerabilities, the security-related vulnerabilities representing potential points of attack.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the identifying at least one security-related vulnerability comprises:
 identifying a plurality of security-related vulnerabilities, and wherein generating a risk indicator for the first network element comprises:   performing a mathematical operation on values associated with each of the plurality of identified security-related vulnerabilities associated with the first network element.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the risk indicator at a user device.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying at least one security-related vulnerability comprises at least one of:
 identifying at least one open port associated with the first network element,   determining that the first network element does not include a firewall or an intrusion detection system,   determining that the first network element interfaces with a non-secured device, or   identifying that the first network element is under an attack.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of open ports on the plurality of network elements, wherein the assigning values comprises:   assigning values to each identified open port based on a level of vulnerability associated with the corresponding network element on which the open port exists.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring the plurality of network elements;   generating a risk indicator for each of the network elements, the risk indicator representing a relative risk level associated with the corresponding network element; and   providing the risk indicator for each of the network elements to a user device for display.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 prioritizing risk associated with the plurality of network elements based on the risk indicators.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether action is required with respect to the first network element based on the risk indicator; and   automatically performing a remedial action with respect to the first network element, in response to determining that action is required.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 generating, after performing the remedial action, a second risk indicator for the first network element; and   determining, based on the second risk indicator, whether a security-related compliance has been achieved with respect to the first network element.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the automatically performing a remedial action comprises:
 quarantining or preventing access to the first network element.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the risk indicator comprises a numerical score. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating a risk indicator comprises:
 determining whether an exception to a security rule exists with respect to the identified at least one security-related vulnerability; and   adjusting the risk indicator for the first network element in response to determining that an exception to a security rule exists with respect to the identified at least one security-related vulnerability.   
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a memory configured to:
 store values associated with a plurality of security-related vulnerabilities, and 
 store information representing exceptions to security rules; and 
   a processing device configured to:
 receive information corresponding to at least one identified security-related vulnerability associated with a first network device, 
 access the memory to determine a value associated with each of the at least one identified security-related vulnerability associated with the first network device, 
 access the memory to determine whether an exception to a security rule exists with respect to any of the at least one identified security-related vulnerability associated with the first network device, and 
 generate a risk indicator for the first network device based on the value associated with each of the at least one identified security-related vulnerability and whether an exception to a security rule exists with respect to any of the at least one identified security-related vulnerability. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:
 forward the risk indicator to a user device for display.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:
 provide an interface to a user device, the interface including options associated with monitoring a plurality of network devices,   receive an input from the user device,   identify a second network device in response to the input,   generate a risk indicator associated with the second network device, and   provide the risk indicator for the second network device to the user device.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the values stored in the memory are based on at least one of a function or location associated with a network device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:
 scan the first network device to identify whether any open ports exist on the first network device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to:
 determine whether action is required with respect to the first network device based on the risk indicator; and   automatically perform a remedial action with respect to the first network device, in response to determining that action is required.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to at least one of:
 transmit a message to a party responsible for monitoring the first network device, in response to determining that action is required, or   store information associated with the remedial action.