Policy Algebras for Hybrid Firewalls


Authors

Hang Zhao, Steven M. Bellovin

Abstract

Firewalls are an effective means of protecting a local system or network of systems from network-based security threats. In this paper, we propose a policy algebra framework for policy-based security management in hybrid firewalls, ones that exist both in the network and on end systems. To perform policy integration and delegation while preserving the security semantics, the policy algebra provides a formalism to perform algebraic operations on policies.We introduce the cost and risk functions associated with policy enforcement; and policy delegation triggers global optimization problem for policy enforcement. We show that our framework can be easily instantiated to support packet filter rules. Finally, the challenges and requirements are addressed for applying the policy algebra framework to dynamic coalitions like MANETs.

Publication Date

September, 2007

Venue

Annual Conference of ITA, 2007

Published To

None


Publication Type

ITA Conference paper

ITA Area

Project 2, Technical area 1

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algebra.pdf

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