Patent ID: 8468256

Claim:
A policy file data structure stored in a memory of a computer that includes a processor, and a network adapter, the policy file data structure which is read by the processor, comprises: a policy identifier field containing data representing an identifier for a security policy that is associated with the network adapter and a network address zone; a protocol identifier field containing data representing an identifier for a protocol associated with the security policy identified in the policy identifier field; a protocol element entry containing data representing a protocol element for the protocol identified by the protocol identifier field, wherein the protocol element entry is associated with port filtering, and the security policy specifies filters for services related to the protocol associated with the security policy, wherein the protocol element entry comprises: an element identifier field containing data representing an identifier for the protocol element field; a setting field containing data representing a filter setting for the protocol element identified by the element identifier field; and a log indicator field containing data representing a decision on logging data utilizing the protocol element identified by the element identifier field; and a zone identifier field associated with restricting communications for the network address zone, wherein connecting to a network causes the computer to read the data structure and configure itself according to the security policy that is associated with a particular network address of the network address zone.