Decoupling hardware and software components of network security devices to provide security software as a service in a distributed computing environment

US9456003B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. · US

Inventors

• William O'Hern · Spring Lake, US
• Edward G. Amoroso · Andover, US
• Michelle Barry · Land O' Lakes, US
• Anthony Ramos · Gainesville, US
• Daniel Solero · Mooresville, US
• Duncan Kirkwood Sparrell · Mount Olive, US
• Rodney Dilts · West River, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 24, 2013
• Grant date: Sep 27, 2016
• Expiry date: Sep 29, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2009/4557
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for decoupling hardware and software components of network security devices to provide security software as a service in a distributed computing environment. A computer system includes a processor that can execute computer-executable instructions to perform various operations. The processor can perform operations to provide security services to one or more customer platforms. The operations can include receiving a network security software component from a security service provider, and deploying the network security software component within a distributed computing environment so that the network security software component can be executed by a computing resource of the distributed computing environment to provide a security service to the customer platform(s). The network security software component includes a software component that has been decoupled from a hardware component of a network security device by the security service provider.