Endpoint security architecture with programmable logic engine

Abstract

The present invention provides an integrated, context-aware, security system that provides an adaptive endpoint security agent architecture model for a continuously monitoring and recording activity across an enterprise, specifically monitoring activity on endpoints, and subsequently detecting and blocking any malicious processes that may otherwise invade the enterprise and cause issues. The endpoint security agent architecture exposes a well-defined, public interface to the event data generated by the endpoint security agent in the form of a custom programming language by which a user can define the logic that the endpoint security agent executes in response to event data to perform detection of and response to suspicious activity.

1 . An endpoint security system comprising:
 an endpoint agent deployed on an endpoint device and operable to record activity thereon, the endpoint agent further operable to execute a set of detection and response logic rules for managing the detection of, and response to suspicious activity; and   a server operable to communicate and exchange data with the endpoint device over a network, the server comprising a processor coupled to non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing instructions executable by the processor to cause the server to:
 receive, via an integrated development environment (IDE), input for managing functionality of the endpoint agent, wherein the input comprises writing, developing, and/or modifying, a customized sets of detection and response logic rules; and 
 output, to the endpoint agent, the customized set of detection and response logic rules. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is operable to receive, from the endpoint agent, security data based on execution of one or more sets of detection and response logic rules. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the endpoint agent comprises one or more collection modules operable to monitor activities of processes and users on the endpoint device in real time, or near-real time, via a range of kernel mode and/or user mode information sources. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more collection modules are operable to:
 generate event data based on the monitoring of activities; and   transmit the event data to a logic engine of the endpoint agent to undergo analysis based on execution of detection and response logic rules for the determination of a one or more actions to be performed based on the analysis of the event data.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the activities comprise one or more events selected from the group consisting of removable media events, file events, session events, network events, name lookup events, process events, registry events, print events, image load events, and object access events. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more events are selected from the group consisting of process start/stop, insertion/removal of removable media, establishment/termination of network connections, writes to a file system, printing of one or more documents, Domain Name System (DNS) name resolution attempts, and writes to an operating system registry 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the set of detection and response logic rules comprises at least one rule statement comprising match criteria and an associated action. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the analysis comprises:
 comparing the event data with the match criteria; and   determine an associated action to be performed by the endpoint agent based on a positive correlation of the event data with the match criteria.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the associated action is selected from the group consisting of a suppress action, an alert action, a forward action, a block action, a killprocess action, an isolate action, and a set action. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the suppress action comprises preventing recording of event data to a forensic log file in a database based on a positive correlation of the event data with a suppress rule match criteria. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the alert action comprises transmitting an alert to the endpoint server indicative of event data requiring attention based on a positive correlation of the event data with an alert rule match criteria. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the forward action comprises transmitting a communication to the endpoint server comprising a copy of event data based on a positive correlation of the event data with a forward rule match criteria. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the block action comprises blocking execution of a process associated with event data based on a positive correlation of the event data with a block rule match criteria. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the killprocess action comprises terminating a process associated with event data and having already been executed based on a positive correlation of the event data with a killprocess rule match criteria. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the isolate action comprises isolating, over the network, the endpoint agent and endpoint device from other endpoint agents and endpoint devices. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the set action comprises modifying one or more state variables associated with rule statements of matching criteria. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customized set of detection and response logic rules is generated based on a custom, declarative programming language, wherein the custom, declarative programming language is compiled, via a compiler module, into byte code, wherein the compiler module is operable to output a compiled rule set. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the customized set of detection and response logic rules outputted from the server comprises a compiled rule set embedded into an installer executable by the endpoint agent to thereby transmit the compiled rule set to the endpoint agent such that the endpoint agent executes the associated customized set of detection and response logic rules. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the customized set of detection and response logic rules is based on at least one of the enterprise's operations, the enterprise's infrastructure, user-based processes within the enterprise, the enterprise's security policies, industry-specific rules and regulations associated with the enterprise, known security threats and techniques, and new emerging security threats and techniques.