Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection of network environment to aid policy selection for network access control. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a request to connect a device to a network and, if a security policy is received for the connection of the device, applying the policy for the device. If a security policy for the connection of the device is not received, the domain of the device is determined by determining whether the device is in an enterprise domain and determining whether the device is in a network access control domain, which allows selection of an appropriate domain/environment specific policy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to off-load cryptographic processes are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a request to perform a cryptographic process at a first component of a processor system, transmitting the request over a data bus to a second component of a processor system, receiving the request at the second component, and performing the cryptographic process on the second component. For example, the first component may be a processor and the second component may be a management agent. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Secure re-authentication of host devices roaming between different connection and/or access points within a network controlled by the same administrative domain is described. Platform overhead associated with exchanging information for authentication and/or validation on each new connection during mobility is reduced by enabling prior authenticated network access to influence subsequent network access.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system enable offloading of encryption on partitioned platforms. More specifically, a partitioned platform may include a user partition for user applications, including a Virtual Private Network (“VPN”) application capable to creating a VPN connection for secure packet transmission. The partitioned platform may additionally comprise a dedicated partition including security agents to examine packets transmitted to/received by the dedicated partition. The dedicated partition may be assigned the Network Interface Card (“NIC”) on the host, i.e., all network traffic coming into or leaving the platform may be routed via the dedicated partition. In one embodiment of the invention, a driver in the user partition may offload cryptographic tasks to the dedicated partition, where clear packets may be examined by security agents, then encrypted prior to transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to define multiple zones in a data packet for exclusion from processing by security operations of a security protocol. In one embodiment, each defined zone has an associated list of security operations from which the zone is protected.

Abstract: A computer system includes a service partition, not directly accessible to a user, having a security agent to inspect data entering and exiting the computer system on a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel, and a service partition VPN unit to communicate with a VPN gateway. The computer system also includes a user partition, accessible to a user, having a user partition VPN unit to initiate construction of the VPN tunnel with the VPN gateway. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Secure enterprise network communication technology provides improved authentication prior to granting network access of enterprise host platforms with the network devices via a backend infrastructure.

Abstract: Transport agnostic, secure communication protocol for transmitting host platform posture information to the Network Access Control Server or PDP (Policy Decision Point) and for receiving policy information to be enforced on the trusted host platform and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein.

Abstract: Cooperating entities share a signaling interface. Each entity establishes a security association between itself and an endpoint, and one of the entities transmits keepalive messages over a channel associated with the security association. Chipsets and systems to implement related methods are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method that includes initiating a network access request from an access requester on a platform that couples to a network, the network access request made to a policy decision point for the network. The method also includes establishing a secure communication channel over a communication link between the policy decision point and a policy enforcement point on the platform. Another secure communication channel is established over another communication link. The other communication link is between at least the policy enforcement point and a manageability engine resident on the platform. The manageability engine forwards posture information associated with the access requester via the other secure communication channel. The posture information is then forwarded to the policy decision point via the secure communication channel between the policy enforcement point and the policy decision point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the inventions are generally directed to methods, apparatuses, and systems for the dynamic evaluation and delegation of network access control. In an embodiment, a platform includes a switch to control a network connection and an endpoint enforcement engine coupled with the switch. The endpoint enforcement engine may be capable of dynamically switching among a number of network access control modes responsive to an instruction received from the network connection.

Abstract: A measurement engine performs active platform observation. A program includes an integrity manifest to indicate an integrity check value for a section of the program's source code. The measurement engine computes a comparison value on the program's image in memory and determines if the comparison value matches the expected integrity check value. If the values do not match, the program's image is determined to be modified, and appropriate remedial action can be triggered. The integrity manifest can include a secure signature to verify the validity of the integrity manifest.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system provides a resource service module, a resource data record repository, and a provider module. The resource service module exposes an interface, receives an invocation of the interface from a system management module, and requests managed resource data associated with a manageable resource based on the invocation. The resource data record repository includes a resource data record indicating a memory location of a managed host in which the managed resource data is stored, and the provider module receives the request and to retrieve the managed resource data from the memory location of the managed host.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques that allow a firmware agent to operate as a tamper-resistant agent on a host platform that may be used as a trusted policy enforcement point (PEP) on the host platform to enforce policies even when the host operating system is compromised. The PEP may be used to open access control and/or remediation channels on the host platform. The firmware agent may also act as a local policy decision point (PDP) on the host platform in accordance with an authorized enterprise PDP entity by providing policies if a host trust agent is non-responsive and may function as a passive agent when the host trust agent is functional.

Abstract: Provided are a techniques for storing information in a packet. A data integrity operation is performed over one portion of the packet to calculate an integrity check value using a secret key. The data transformation operation is performed over another selectable portion of the packet to store the integrity check value in the other portion of the packet, without increasing a size of the packet. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically configuring a tunnel is presented. A client initiates a negotiation with a gateway. The gateway sends information to the client. The client extracts a security configuration from the information. Using the security configuration, a tunnel is established between the client and the gateway so that secure communication may occur.