Abstract: For a host that executes one or more guest virtual machines (GVMs), some embodiments provide a novel encryption method for encrypting the data messages sent by the GVMs. The method initially receives a data message to send for a GVM executing on the host. The method then determines whether it should encrypt the data message based on a set of one or more encryption rules. When the process determines that it should encrypt the received data message, it encrypts the data message and forwards the encrypted data message to its destination; otherwise, the method just forwards the received data message unencrypted to its destination. In some embodiments, the host encrypts differently the data messages for different GVMs that execute on the host.

Abstract: In a virtualized computer system, gray applications that are selected to be executed in a first virtual computing instance are executed and monitored in a second virtual computing instance that is a clone of the first virtual computing instance, and classified according to their monitored behavior. This process is conducted in real-time, in response to a notification that a gray application has been selected for execution in the first virtual computing instance. The execution of the gray application in the first virtual computing instance is delayed until the first virtual computing instance receives a notification from an application admission control manager that the gray application is safe to be executed in the first virtual computing instance.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing network access filtering and/or categorization through guest introspection (GI) on a device. In some embodiments, this GI method intercepts directly on a device a data message that device is preparing to send, and uses a service appliance to determine whether the data message can be sent. The device in some embodiments is a guest virtual machine (VM) that executes on a multi-VM host computing device along with a service VM (SVM) that is the service appliance that determines whether the data message can be sent based on a set of filtering rules. In some embodiments, the method uses one or more introspectors (e.g., network introspector and/or file introspector) to capture introspection data from the guest VM (GVM) about the data message that the GVM is preparing to send. To perform the network access filtering, the GI method in some embodiments captures contextual information, such as user and application information (e.g.

Abstract: A method for enforcing a network policy is described herein. In the method, a network socket event request from an application executing in a first context is intercepted by an agent prior to the request reaching a transport layer in the first context. A context refers to virtualization software, a physical computer, or a combination of virtualization software and physical computer. In response to the interception of the request, the agent requests a decision on whether to allow or deny the network socket event request to be communicated to a security server executing in a second context that is distinct from the first context. The request for a decision includes an identification of the application. The agent then receives from the security server either an allowance or a denial of the network socket event request, the allowance or denial being based at least in part on the identification of the application and a security policy.

Abstract: A method for performing network access filtering and/or categorization through guest introspection on a device data compute node (DCN) that executes on a host is provided. The method, through a guest introspector installed on the DCN, intercepts a data message that the DCN is preparing to send. The method identifies a category of the network resource. The method uses the category of the network resource to examine a set of network access policies that are stored on the host in order to determine whether the network access should be allowed. The method identifies a network access policy that requires the rejection of the network access when the access to the network resource causes an aggregate bandwidth for accessing the identified category of network resource to exceed a bandwidth threshold. The method rejects the network access based on the identified network access policy.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for virtual machine security. A described technique includes operating one or more virtual machines each in accordance with a respective security container, wherein the respective security container is associated with a respective rule that specifies transfer of the virtual machine from the respective security container to a quarantine container based on one or more criteria. One or more security services are operated on the one or more virtual machines to identify one or more security threats associated with one or more of the virtual machines. One or more tags generated by the endpoint security services are obtained, where each tag is for a virtual machine that is associated with one of the identified security threats. And one of the virtual machines is identified as requiring transfer to the quarantine container based on, at least, one or more of the obtained tags and the one or more criteria.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for virtual machine security. A described technique includes operating one or more virtual machines each in accordance with a respective security container, wherein the respective security container is associated with a respective rule that specifies transfer of the virtual machine from the respective security container to a quarantine container based on one or more criteria. One or more security services are operated on the one or more virtual machines to identify one or more security threats associated with one or more of the virtual machines. One or more tags generated by the endpoint security services are obtained, where each tag is for a virtual machine that is associated with one of the identified security threats. And one of the virtual machines is identified as requiring transfer to the quarantine container based on, at least, one or more of the Obtained tags and the one or more criteria.

Abstract: A method for enforcing a network policy is described herein. In the method, a network socket event request from an application executing in a first context is intercepted by an agent prior to the request reaching a transport layer in the first context. A context refers to virtualization software, a physical computer, or a combination of virtualization software and physical computer. In response to the interception of the request, the agent requests a decision on whether to allow or deny the network socket event request to be communicated to a security server executing in a second context that is distinct from the first context. The request for a decision includes an identification of the application. The agent then receives from the security server either an allowance or a denial of the network socket event request, the allowance or denial being based at least in part on the identification of the application and a security policy.

Abstract: For a host that executes one or more guest virtual machines (GVMs), some embodiments provide a novel encryption method for encrypting the data messages sent by the GVMs. The method initially receives a data message to send for a GVM executing on the host. The method then determines whether it should encrypt the data message based on a set of one or more encryption rules. When the process determines that it should encrypt the received data message, it encrypts the data message and forwards the encrypted data message to its destination; otherwise, the method just forwards the received data message unencrypted to its destination. In some embodiments, the host encrypts differently the data messages for different GVMs that execute on the host.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel method for authorizing network requests for a machine in a network. In some embodiments, the method is performed by security agents that execute on virtual machines operating on a host machine. In some embodiments, the method captures a network request (e.g., network control packets, socket connection request, etc.) from a primary application executing on the machine. The method identifies an extended context for the network request and determines whether the network request is authorized based on the extended context. The method then processes the network request according to the determination. The extended context of some embodiments includes identifications for primary and secondary applications associated with the network request. Alternatively, or conjunctively, some embodiments include identifications for primary and secondary users associated with the network request.

Abstract: A method for linking records from different datasets based on record similarities is described. The method includes ingesting a first dataset, including a first set of records with a first set of fields, wherein the first dataset is associated with a first vendor and a first type of data, and a second dataset, including a second set of records with a second set of fields, wherein the second dataset is associated with a second vendor and a second type of data; determining that a first record from the first set of records is similar to a second record from the second set of records based on similarities between fields in the first and second set of fields; and linking the first and second records in response to determining that the similarity, wherein the first and second vendors are different and/or the first and second types of data are different.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel method for authorizing network requests for a machine in a network. In some embodiments, the method is performed by security agents that execute on virtual machines operating on a host machine. In some embodiments, the method captures a network request (e.g., network control packets, socket connection request, etc.) from a primary application executing on the machine. The method identifies an extended context for the network request and determines whether the network request is authorized based on the extended context. The method then processes the network request according to the determination. The extended context of some embodiments includes identifications for primary and secondary applications associated with the network request. Alternatively, or conjunctively, some embodiments include identifications for primary and secondary users associated with the network request.

Abstract: A method for configuring the operation of the software of a data as a service (DAAS) system during run time is described. The configuring includes at least one of configuring ingestion of a vendor dataset to produce an ingested dataset and which analysis operations to perform on the vendor dataset to produce an analyzed dataset, and the configuring also includes at least one of how to search the vendor dataset based on a search query from a customer to allow the customer to locate a new record from the vendor dataset and how to match records in the vendor dataset with a match query from the customer to provide an updated record to the customer.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for virtual machine security. A described technique includes operating one or more virtual machines each in accordance with a respective security container, wherein the respective security container is associated with a respective rule that specifies transfer of the virtual machine from the respective security container to a quarantine container based on one or more criteria. One or more security services are operated on the one or more virtual machines to identify one or more security threats associated with one or more of the virtual machines. One or more tags generated by the endpoint security services are obtained, where each tag is for a virtual machine that is associated with one of the identified security threats. And one of the virtual machines is identified as requiring transfer to the quarantine container based on, at least, one or more of the Obtained tags and the one or more criteria.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for monitoring network communications using a distributed firewall. One of the techniques includes receiving, at a driver executing in a guest operating system of a virtual machine, a request to open a network connection from a process associated with a user, wherein the driver performs operations comprising: obtaining identity information for the user; providing the identity information and data identifying the network connection to an identity module external to the driver; and receiving, by a distributed firewall, data associating the identity information with the data identifying the network connection from the identity module, wherein the distributed firewall performs operations comprising: receiving an outgoing packet from the virtual machine; determining that the identity information corresponds to the outgoing packet; and evaluating one or more routing rules based at least in part on the identity information.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for virtual machine security. A described technique includes operating one or more virtual machines each in accordance with a respective security container, wherein the respective security container is associated with a respective rule that specifies transfer of the virtual machine from the respective security container to a quarantine container based on one or more criteria. One or more security services are operated on the one or more virtual machines to identify one or more security threats associated with one or more of the virtual machines. One or more tags generated by the endpoint security services are obtained, where each tag is for a virtual machine that is associated with one of the identified security threats. And one of the virtual machines is identified as requiring transfer to the quarantine container based on, at least, one or more of the obtained tags and the one or more criteria.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for monitoring network communications using a distributed firewall. One of the techniques includes receiving, at a driver executing in a guest operating system of a virtual machine, a request to open a network connection from a process associated with a user, wherein the driver performs operations comprising: obtaining identity information for the user; providing the identity information and data identifying the network connection to an identity module external to the driver; and receiving, by a distributed firewall, data associating the identity information with the data identifying the network connection from the identity module, wherein the distributed firewall performs operations comprising: receiving an outgoing packet from the virtual machine; determining that the identity information corresponds to the outgoing packet; and evaluating one or more routing rules based at least in part on the identity information.

Abstract: For an encryption management module of a host that executes one or more data compute nodes (DCNs), some embodiments of the invention provide a method of providing key management and encryption services. The method initially receives an encryption key ticket at an encryption management module to be used to retrieve an encryption key identified by the ticket from a key manager. When the encryption key has been retrieved, the method uses the encryption key to encrypt a message sent by a data compute node executing on the host requiring encryption according to an encryption rule. The encryption key ticket, in some embodiments, is generated for an encryption management module to implement the principle of least privilege. The ticket acts as a security token in retrieving encryption keys from a key manager. Ticket distribution and encryption rule distribution are independent of each other in some embodiments.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing network access filtering and/or categorization through guest introspection (GI) on a device. In some embodiments, this GI method intercepts directly on a device a data message that device is preparing to send, and uses a service appliance to determine whether the data message can be sent. The device in some embodiments is a guest virtual machine (VM) that executes on a multi-VM host computing device along with a service VM (SVM) that is the service appliance that determines whether the data message can be sent based on a set of filtering rules. In some embodiments, the method uses one or more introspectors (e.g., network introspector and/or file introspector) to capture introspection data from the guest VM (GVM) about the data message that the GVM is preparing to send. To perform the network access filtering, the GI method in some embodiments captures contextual information, such as user and application information (e.g.

Abstract: For a host that executes one or more guest virtual machines (GVMs), some embodiments provide a novel encryption method for encrypting the data messages sent by the GVMs. The method initially receives a data message to send for a GVM executing on the host. The method then determines whether it should encrypt the data message based on a set of one or more encryption rules. When the process determines that it should encrypt the received data message, it encrypts the data message and forwards the encrypted data message to its destination; otherwise, the method just forwards the received data message unencrypted to its destination. In some embodiments, the host encrypts differently the data messages for different GVMs that execute on the host.