Abstract:
A controller is provided which monitors/manages information terminals&#39; access to a network within a secured site. A controller of the present invention includes: a storage device for storing security information about at least one or more information terminals received from the information terminals before accessing a network; and a processor for determining whether to permit access of an information terminal to the network based on the security information read from the storage device and access permission criteria on the security information, and generating a control signal for permitting or blocking the access of the information terminal to the network according to the determination result.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to monitoring of access to a network within a secured site, and more specifically to a controller, system, and method for monitoring/managing the access by an information terminal to a network within a secured site. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In order to protect confidential information or personal information in information terminals such as personal computers (hereinafter called PCs) connectable to a network, it is important to grasp/manage security information including the versions and management levels of an OS and applications applied to each of the information terminals, and the like. The importance is particularly high in a network within a secured site. 
         [0003]    Under the conventional technology, an information terminal having confidential information or personal information uses a firewall to prevent unauthorized access from outside or individually applies a patch delivered to an OS to provide protection. 
         [0004]    However, when one person manages two or more information terminals or when two or more users share one information terminal, it is difficult to keep the versions and management levels of the OS and applications on each of the information terminals always up-to-date. In other words, since the management of the information terminals and the management of versions are often left to each individual administrator, the vulnerability may not be actually fixed even if the administrator believes them to be up-to-date, or the antivirus level may be low. Thus, there is a limit to what each individual administrator can do to maintain and manage the security level of each information terminal. 
         [0005]    Japanese Patent No. 5323873 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-99306 are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a controller, system, and method for monitoring/managing the access of an information terminal to a network, especially to a network within a secured site in order to solve or reduce the above problem of the conventional technology. 
         [0007]    In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a controller for monitoring the access of an information terminal to a network within a secured site. The controller includes: (a) a storage device for storing security information on at least one or more information terminals received from the information terminals before accessing the network; and (b) a processor for determining whether to permit the access of the information terminal to the network from the security information read from the storage device and access permission criteria on the security information, and generating a control signal for permitting or blocking the access of the information terminal to the network according to the determination result. 
         [0008]    According to the one aspect of the present invention, before the access of an information terminal to the network within the secured site, it is automatically determined whether to permit the access from the security state of the information terminal, and in the event of a problem with the information terminal, the access can be blocked. 
         [0009]    In the one aspect of the present invention, the controller may receive, through an RFID reader, the security information stored in an RFID tag included in the information terminal. 
         [0010]    According to the one aspect of the present invention, even when the information terminal is not started, it can be automatically determined whether an information terminal is the information terminal having a problem with the security state at the stage of entering the secured site. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a management system for managing the access of an information terminal to a network within a secured site. The management system includes: (a) a receiver for receiving security information on at least one or more information terminals from the information terminals before accessing the network; (b) a controller for determining whether to permit the access of the information terminal to the network from the security information received from the receiver and the latest access permission criteria on the security information, and generating a control signal for permitting or blocking the access of the information terminal to the network according to the determination result; and (c) a filter device for permitting or blocking the access of the information terminal to the network according to the control signal from the controller. 
         [0012]    According to the other aspect of the present invention, before the access of an information terminal to the network within the secured site, it is automatically determined whether to permit the access from the security state of the information terminal, and in the event of a problem with the security state of the information terminal, the access can be blocked. 
         [0013]    In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using a controller to monitor the access of an information terminal to a network within a secured site. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving security information on at least one or more information terminals from the information terminals before accessing the network; (b) determining whether to permit the access of the information terminal to the network from the received security information and the latest access permission criteria on the security information; (c) generating a control signal for permitting or blocking the access of the information terminal to the network according to the determination result; and (d) permitting or blocking the access of the information terminal to the network according to the control signal. 
         [0014]    According to the still other aspect of the present invention, before the access of an information terminal to the network within the secured site, it is automatically determined whether to permit the access from the security state of the information terminal, and in the event of a problem with the security state of the information terminal, the access can be blocked. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a configuration example of a management system of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a configuration example of a controller of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a configuration example of an RFID of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a chart showing a flow of a method of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  shows a configuration example of a management system of the present invention. A management system  100  in  FIG. 1  shows a configuration example when it is connected to a network  18  in a secured site in a communicable manner. Here, the secured site means an area whose security management is important, such as a highly-confidential department of a company. The secured site is not physically limited to an area within one building, and two or more separate places connected through the network  18  in a communicable manner can be included. The broken lines in  FIG. 1  indicate wireless or wired communication paths. 
         [0020]    The management system  100  includes a controller  10 , an RFID reader  12 , and a filter device  16  as a basic configuration. Reference numerals  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  represent information terminals. For example, the information terminals include a laptop PC, a tablet PC, a smartphone, and the like. The information terminals  20  and  22  are information terminals that are going to be connected to (access) the network  18 . The information terminals  24  and  26  are information terminals already connected to the network  18 . Reference numeral  30  represents a storage device connected to the network  18 . As the storage device  30 , for example, an HDD, a tape storage device, an optical/magnetooptical disk drive, or the like is included. 
         [0021]    The controller  10  can be a so-called computer. For example, a PC, a server, or the like can be included. The controller  10  implements a method (function) of the present invention under the execution of a predetermined program (software). The RFID reader  12  transmits electromagnetic waves through an antenna  14  to drive RFID tags (hereinafter also called devices) attached to the information terminals  20  and  22 , and receives predetermined information from the RFID devices. The RFID reader  12  transmits the received information to the controller  10 . The RFID reader  12  can also be incorporated in or attached to the controller  10  as part of the controller  10 . The RFID reader  12  is shown as an example of a non-contact (wireless) information storage and reader, and any other non-contact (wireless) information storage and reader having similar functionality can also be used. 
         [0022]    The filter device  16  is a device for permitting (passing) or blocking the access of an information terminal to the network  18 , which corresponds to a device having a so-called firewall (filter) function. The information terminals can access the network  18  only through the filter device  16 . The filter device  16  can also be incorporated in or attached to the controller  10  as part of the controller  10 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the controller  10  in  FIG. 1 . The controller  10  includes a processor (CPU)  101 , a storage device  102 , and various I/F  104  connected one another through a bus  103 . The various I/F  104  is used as a generic term that includes an input I/F, an output I/F, an external storage I/F, an external communication I/F, and the like. Each I/F is connected to corresponding means, namely I/O means  105  such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a communication adapter, display means  106  such as a CRT or an LCD, or an external storage device  107  such as a semiconductor memory through a USB connection or an HDD. The storage device  102  can include semiconductor memories such as a RAM and a ROM, and an HDD. The function (method) of the present invention is implemented in such a manner that the controller  10  calls and executes predetermined software stored, for example, in the storage device  102 ,  107 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a RFID device  40  attached to the information terminal  20  or the like. The RFID device  40  can be placed in the information terminal or on a lateral wall of the information terminal. An antenna  402  receives electromagnetic waves as drive power from the RFID reader  12  in  FIG. 1 , and an analog logic circuit  404  converts the electromagnetic waves to induced electromotive current and sends the electromotive current to a battery  406 . The battery  406  stores input current and supplies drive power of an RFID tag (device)  40 . Thus, necessary information can be obtained from the RFID tag (device)  40  even if the information terminal is powered off. The battery  406  can also receive power (current) from a battery or the like in the information terminal. This enables the transmission of information to the controller  10  located in a relatively distance position even when the electromagnetic waves from the RFID reader  12  are weak. 
         [0025]    A controller  408  is connected to the CPU, the memory, and the like in the information terminal through an interface  410  in a communicable manner. The interface  410  can be, for example, an I 2 C interface. The controller  408  receives, through the interface  410 , security information on the types (IDs) and versions of software such as an OS, applications, and antivirus software that run on the information terminal. The controller  408  stores the received security information in a memory  412 . The memory  412  includes, for example, a nonvolatile memory like a flash memory. The information terminal is configured to send, to the RFID device  40 , the security information on the IDs and versions using a dedicated driver at the time of introduction of software or at the update time. 
         [0026]    Next, a flow of a method of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 4  is a chart showing a flow of a method of one embodiment of the present invention. The flow of  FIG. 4  shows a basic flow of the method. Based on the system configuration in  FIG. 1 , the flow of  FIG. 4  will be described below. The flow of  FIG. 4  is executed by (under the control of) the controller  10  as already described. 
         [0027]    In step S 11 , the controller  10  searches whether the information terminal  20 ,  22  has come into a secured site. Specifically, the controller  10  sends a signal for searching the presence or absence of the RFID device  40  of the information terminal  20 ,  22  through the RFID reader  12 . In step S 12 , the presence or absence of the information terminal (RFID) is determined. Specifically, the determination is made as to the presence or absence of a response (Ack including ID information) to the search signal previously sent. When this determination is No, the procedure returns to step S 12  to continue to search for an information terminal. Since access from any information terminal with no RFID device  40  attached is never permitted, access can be limited only to information terminals with the RFID device  40  attached, i.e., with which the presence or absence of the RFID device  40  is registered beforehand. This can completely prevent access to the network from an unregistered information terminal. 
         [0028]    When the determination in step S 12  is Yes, security information is acquired from the found information terminal  20 ,  22  in the next step S 13 . Specifically, the security information on the types (IDs) and versions of software such as the OS, the applications, and the antivirus software stored in the memory  412  inside the information terminal already described with reference to  FIG. 3  is received. The security information is received through the RFID reader  12  in  FIG. 1 . The received security information is stored in the storage device  102 ,  107  of the controller  10 . 
         [0029]    In step S 14 , it is determined whether to permit the access of the found information terminal  20 ,  22  to the network  18 . Specifically, for example, the determination is made as follows. Note that information on the latest version of software and the like as access permission criteria are updated by the controller  10  periodically so that the latest information will be stored in the storage device  102 ,  107 . 
         [0030]    (i) A determination is made as to whether the types (IDs) of software such as the OS, the applications, the antivirus software match with those of registered software to be permitted to access. This can prevent access (unauthorized access) under the execution of risky software on the information terminal. 
         [0031]    (ii) A determination is made as to whether the versions of software including the OS are the latest versions or problem-free version levels or higher. This can permit access only with the latest versions of antivirus software and the like. 
         [0032]    (iii) Since the above determinations (i) and (ii) are made for each software, a determination as to whether to permit access can be made in units of software executed on the information terminal. In other words, for example, such a determination that OSI is OK only when it is the latest version, application A is OK if it is of version 3 or higher, and application C is NG regardless of the version can be made. 
         [0033]    When access from the information terminal can be permitted, an access permit signal is generated and transmitted in step S 16 . Specifically, a filter signal for access permission is transmitted to the filter device  16  in  FIG. 1  together with the ID (e.g., IP address) of the information terminal. At this time, the access permit signal can be generated and transmitted in units of software that runs on the information terminal as mentioned above. In this case, the ID of corresponding software is also transmitted to the filter device  16  at the same time together with the ID of the information terminal. In step S 17 , the filter device  16  permits access from the information terminal/software having the IDs received (i.e., it clears the filter). This enables the information terminal to access the network  18  after startup. 
         [0034]    When access from the information terminal cannot be permitted, an access block signal is generated and transmitted in step S 18  to block the access in step S 19 . Specifically, a filter signal for blocking access is transmitted to the filter device  16  in  FIG. 1  together with the ID of the information terminal. At this time, the access block signal can be generated and transmitted in units of software that runs on the information terminal like in the case of access permission. In this case, the ID of corresponding software is also transmitted to the filter device  16  at the same time together with the ID of the information terminal. In step S 19 , the filter device  16  blocks access from the information terminal/software having the IDs received. This disables the information terminal to access the network  18  after startup. 
         [0035]    When the filter device  16  is blocking all the access paths by default, a flow of steps S 18  and S 19  can be omitted. In this case, access from any information terminal with no RFID device  40  attached is never permitted. Further, the controller  10  can transmit the determination result of blocking the access to the information terminal the access of which is not permitted to make the reason known and urge updating of the version of corresponding software and the like. 
         [0036]    In step S 20 , it is determined whether to complete the search in step S 11 . When the search is not to be completed, the procedure returns to step S 11  to continue the search. When the search is to be completed due to temporary or periodic closing of the secured site, the flow of the method is ended. 
         [0037]    The present invention described with reference to the aforementioned embodiment can have the following working effects: 
         [0038]    (a) An information terminal using old versions of OS, applications, antivirus software, or the like, the use of which a user is not aware, can be automatically grasped before being connected to a network to reduce the danger of facing a threat from outside immediately after the connection. 
         [0039]    (b) An information terminal can be prevented from using a vulnerable application and hence leaking information carelessly. 
         [0040]    (c) Since version information on an OS and applications on each information terminal can be managed by the controller in an integrated fashion, an administrator of each individual information terminal does not need to care about whether the versions of the OS and applications are latest, and this can avoid the risk of information leakage from vulnerable parts of the old versions of the OS and applications. 
         [0041]    (d) If an administrator of an information terminal rejected by the controller to pass through the filter device recognizes that the latest version of an application is not introduced, the latest version can be introduced into the information terminal separately. Since the introduction is reported to the controller through the RFID, a filter is generated in the filter device when the version of the application becomes the latest to enable the information terminal to pass through the filter device. 
         [0042]    (e) Since the filter can be generated before the information terminal is started or before the network is configured, if the information terminal has the latest versions of software such as the OS, the environment to pass through the filter device will be already created at the stage of entering the secured site and being connected to the network. 
         [0043]    The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. It should be noted that the present invention can be carried out in other forms to which various improvements, modifications, and variations are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.