Patent ID: 6920558
Filing Date: 2005-07-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing security policies in a distributed computing system, wherein security policies determine access rights to a computer application, the method comprising: creating a plurality of security policies, wherein each security policy specifies a level of security for the distributed computing system; distributing the plurality of security policies to each computer in the distributed computing system; selecting a specific security policy from the plurality of security policies for use across the distributed computing system; and informing each computer in the distributed computing system to use the specific security policy; wherein the plurality of security policies includes a default security policy, wherein the default security policy is selected by a computer within the distributed computing system if the specific security policy is defective; wherein a host is provided including applications, a security posture interpreter, and a local policy database, the applications capable of registering with the security posture interpreter, whereupon registration, the security posture interpreter returns a current security policy to the applications.