Security classification applying social norming

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for security classification applying social norming. More specifically, content is received from a user via an interface; and, a data repository connected to the interface stores the content. A portal connected to the data repository identifies an attempt to access the content from a non-user. A program processor connected to the portal determines whether the content includes a security classification. When the content does not include a security classification, a communications module connected to the program processor sends an alert to the user. The alert includes a request to assign a security classification to the content. When the content includes a security classification, the communications module sends a message to the user, wherein the message includes a request to verify the security classification.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is in the field of systems, methods, and computer program products for security classification applying social norming.

With the increasing use of private and public computer networks, information has become more widely available to a larger number of end-users. For instance, the internet, a global network connecting millions of computers, is increasingly becoming the preferred way to disseminate information. Both commercial and non-commercial entities have recognized the growing use of computer networks and have thus accelerated the posting of electronic documents to provide access to their information.

Electronically posted documents may contain any type of information which can be electronically communicated. These documents are often posted on the World Wide Web, a system of internet-accessible web servers. Individual companies set up one or more web sites using a web server to support webpage publication and communication. Some examples of information which can be included in an electronic document such as a webpage includes data, text, facsimile, audio, video, graphics, as well as other types of information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention includes a method and system for content management. More specifically, content is received from a user via an interface; and, a data repository connected to the interface stores the received content. A portal connected to the data repository identifies an attempt to access the content from a non-user. A program processor connected to the portal determines whether the content includes a security classification. When the content does not include a security classification, a communications module connected to the program processor sends an alert to the user. The alert includes a request to assign a security classification to the content. When the content includes a security classification, the communications module sends a message to the user, wherein the message includes a request to verify the security classification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary, non-limiting, embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below. While specific configurations are discussed to provide a clear understanding, it should be understood that the disclosed configurations are provided for illustration purposes only. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention includes a method of content management in a data repository, wherein security classifications are attached to resources in the repository. In order to maximize the accuracy of the security classification, the security classification is attached by the owner of the resource. The owner is allowed to upload the resource then select the security classification at a later time. The embodiments herein safeguard against the owner forgetting/neglecting to apply a security classification prior to others interacting with the resource.

More specifically, social norming is used to encourage owners to apply security classifications to resources residing in a resource repository. Social norming brings about influence on certain behavior or behavioral patterns. An embodiment of the invention influences (nudges) resource owners to apply a valid security classification by virtue of alerting the owner when other parties wish to interact with the resource. Social norming is about peer pressure. For example, as described more fully below, an embodiment of the invention creates a list of “violators”, i.e., a list of owners that have failed to assign a security classification to their resources that have been submitted to the repository. To pressure the owners to assign security classifications, the list of violators can be visible by the peers of the owners.

FIG. 1illustrates a system for content management100according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the system100includes an interface110, a data repository120, a portal130, a program processor140, a communications module150, and a security module160. AlthoughFIG. 1illustrates a particular configuration of components, the system100has a different configuration of components in another embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the security module160is connected to the interface110.

FIG. 2is a flow diagram illustrating a method for content management200(e.g., using the system100) according to an embodiment of the invention. The interface110receives content (also referred to herein as a “resource”) from a user (also referred to herein as the “owner”) (210). In at least one embodiment, the interface110is computer program instructions (e.g., on a server) for providing interaction with the user to allow access to the data repository120. In another embodiment, the interface110is a personal computer, laptop computer, mouse, keyboard, touch screen, cell phone, and/or tablet computer (e.g., used by the user). As used herein, the term “content” refers to documents (text, images, videos), files, records, resources, and/or webpages. The term “user”, as used herein, refers to one or more individuals, entities, and/or systems that owns, authored, published, and/or posted the content.

For example, if the interface110receives a portable document format (PDF) article from employee A of XYZ corporation, both employee A and the XYZ corporation are users. Thus, in at least one embodiment, a co-worker of employee A (e.g., employee A's supervisor and/or administrative assistant) can assign a security classification to the article. If the corporation is a user, the corporation can define individuals or groups of individuals as users (e.g., people who can publish and/or assign security classifications to content). For example, an administrator of XYZ corporation defines individuals having threshold security level, employees in the accounting and advertising departments, or all employees of XYZ corporation as users.

In at least one embodiment, the user registers with (or subsequently logs on to) the system100by submitting a user name and/or contact information. The user is the entity that sent the content is associated with the user name and/or contact information to the interface110. Thus, if employee A's user name (e.g., jdoe2010) and contact information (e.g., john.doe@email.com, personal cell phone number) are not associated with the XYZ corporation, then employee A is the only user (e.g., employee A registers with FACEBOOK.COM). However, if employee A's user name (e.g., xyzmarketing) and contact information (e.g., jdoe@xyzcorp.com, marketing@xyzcorp.com, business telephone number) is associated with the XYZ corporation, then both employee A and the XYZ corporation are users.

The received content is stored in the data repository120(220), which is connected to the interface110. As used herein the term “connected” is intended to mean operationally connected, in communication with, physically connected, engaged, coupled, contacts, linked, affixed, and attached. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the data repository120is a searchable electronic database. In at least one embodiment, the data repository120includes (e.g., is resident on) one or more websites, servers, networks, and/or a cloud computing system. Thus, in one example, the content is a spreadsheet and the data repository120is a multi-tenant collaborative environment.

The portal130is connected to the data repository120, wherein the portal130identifies and/or receives an attempt to access the content in the data repository120from a non-user (230). In at least one embodiment, the portal130is computer program instructions (e.g., on a server) for providing interaction with a non-user entity (also referred to herein as a 3rd Party) to allow access to the data repository120. As used herein, the term “access” refers to viewing, downloading, opening, clicking on, modifying, editing, appending (e.g., tagging, flagging, commenting on) and/or interacting with. As used herein, the term non-user refers to one or more individuals, entities, and/or systems that does not own and/or did not author, publish, and/or post the content (e.g., a co-worker of the user). In another embodiment, the portal130is a personal computer, laptop computer, mouse, keyboard, touch screen, cell phone, and/or tablet computer. In at least one embodiment, the attempt to access the content is from one or more non-user entities (human or non-human), e.g., the user's supervisor, administrative assistant, colleague, client, a search engine, and/or a system performing a data backup. In one embodiment, the system performing the data backup only attempts to access the content when the content has a security classification.

The program processor140is connected to the data repository120, wherein the program processor140determines whether the content requested includes a security classification (240). When the requested content does not include a security classification, an alert is sent to the user (250). The alert is sent from the communications module150, which is connected to the program processor140. The alert is not sent to the user when the requested content includes a security classification. The alert includes an e-mail, instant message, text message, facsimile and/or telephone call notifying the user that a non-user has attempted to access the content and/or requesting that the user assign a security classification to the content. In another embodiment, the alert includes a message notifying the user that others cannot access the content until a security classification is assigned to the content.

The security module160is connected to the portal130, wherein the security module160permits access to the content by the non-user when the content includes a security classification, and denies access to the content by the non-user when the content does not include a security classification. In at least one embodiment, the security module160permits access to the content by the non-user when the content does not include a security classification and the non-user is a requester, wherein the requester has a threshold security clearance level, is employed by the same company as the user, is in the same department as the user (e.g., accounting), and/or has been previously granted access to second content of the user (i.e., other content stored in the data repository from the user). The security module160denies access to the content by the non-user when the content does not include a security classification and the attempt to access the content is not from the requester.

At least one embodiment of the invention hides (e.g., via the portal130) the presence of the content in the data repository120from non-user(s) when the content does not include a security classification. In other words, the content from the user is stored in data repository, but non-users cannot see that the content is there, i.e., the content is hidden. For example, if the data repository includes a photograph posted by user A, and the photograph lacks a security classification, then other non-user entities would not be made aware that the photograph is stored in the data repository (e.g., the photograph would not be listed or shown in a directory, or return as a search result).

In at least one embodiment of the invention, when the content does not include a security classification, access to the content by the non-user is denied and/or the presence of the content is hidden from the non-user after a threshold number of attempts to access the content by non-user(s) is reached (e.g., via the security module160). For example, when video clip V lacks a security classification, it can only be accessed by non-user(s) 10 times. After the 10th access by a non-user, further access to video clip V by a non-user is denied. In another embodiment, when the content does not include a security classification, access to the content by a non-user is denied and/or the presence of the content is hidden from non-user(s) after a threshold time period, e.g., the file can only be accessed by non-user(s) for the 24 hours following storage of the file in the data repository120. In yet another embodiment, the communications module150sends the user a message that a threshold number of access attempts by non-user(s) and/or a threshold time period has been reached. When the content includes a security classification, access to the content by the non-user is granted.

When the content includes a security classification, one embodiment of the invention sends a message to the user, wherein the message includes a request to verify the security classification. The message is automatically sent by the communications module150in response to an attempt to access the content by the non-user. Access to the content by the non-user is denied and/or the presence of the content is hidden from the non-user until the security classification is verified by the user (e.g., via the security module160). This ensures that the content is not under or over classified. When the content does not include a security classification, the message requesting verification of a security classification is not sent to the user.

In addition, at least one embodiment defines at least one select non-user, wherein the communications module150only sends the alert to the user when the attempt to access the content is made by the select non-user. The select non-user is one or more human or non-human entities, e.g., the user's supervisor, administrative assistant, colleague, client, a search engine, and/or a system performing a data backup. The select non-user is selected by the user and/or an administrator of the data repository120. For example, the data repository120includes a webpage of the user that lacks a security classification. The user defines the select non-user as John Doe. When John Doe attempts to access the webpage from the data repository120, an alert is sent to the user. An alert is not sent to the user when Jane Doe (not defined as a select non-user) attempts to access the webpage from the data repository120.

Furthermore, at least one embodiment of the invention includes validating an assigned security classification. Specifically, the date that the current security classification was established is compared with the date that the content was last updated. When the current security classification date is older than the content update date by a threshold value (e.g., 10 days), then the communications module140sends an alert to the user interface120. In at least one embodiment, the program processor140automatically performs the date comparison when an attempt to access the content by the non-user is identified by the portal130. In another embodiment, the program processor140automatically performs the date comparison at a predetermined interval (e.g., every Monday at 8:00 a.m.).

In at least one embodiment of the invention, the program processor140generates a list of users that have sent content to be stored in the data repository120(e.g., submitted a file to the interface110) and have not assigned a security classification to the content to be stored in the data repository120. The communications module150permits access to and/or sends the list to the users' peers, the users' supervisors, and/or the users on the list. The users' peers include colleagues, coworkers (e.g., all employees of a user's company), and/or individuals in the users' professional network (e.g., employee directory, e-mail contacts list, LINKEDIN.COM contacts) and/or social network (e.g., FACEBOOK.COM, MYSPACE.COM, e-mail contacts list, user-generated Friends List).

Characteristics are as follows:

Service Models are as follows:

Deployment Models are as follows:

Referring now toFIG. 6, a representative hardware environment for practicing at least one embodiment of the invention is depicted. This schematic drawing illustrates a hardware configuration of an information handling/computer system in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. The system comprises at least one processor or central processing unit (CPU)70. The CPUs70are interconnected with system bus72to various devices such as a random access memory (RAM)74, read-only memory (ROM)76, and an input/output (I/O) adapter78. The I/O adapter78can connect to peripheral devices, such as disk units71and tape drives73, or other program storage devices that are readable by the system. The system can read the inventive instructions on the program storage devices and follow these instructions to execute the methodology of at least one embodiment of the invention. The system further includes a user interface adapter79that connects a keyboard75, mouse77, speaker84, microphone82, and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen device (not shown) to the bus72to gather user input. Additionally, a communication adapter80connects the bus72to a data processing network85, and a display adapter81connects the bus72to a display device83which may be embodied as an output device such as a monitor, printer, or transmitter, for example.