Patent ID: 8126999

Claim:
A computer-storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer connected to a computer network, perform a method for configuring the operation of the computer connected to the computer network, the method comprising: acquiring at least one network attribute, each network attribute corresponding to an attribute of the computer network; generating a value for at least one derived network DNA component according to at least one derived network DNA component specification, each derived network DNA component corresponding to an attribute of the computer network, and at least one of said at least one derived network DNA component specification referencing at least one of said at least one network attribute and processing by which the value of the derived network DNA component is generated from the referenced at least one network attribute; determining a network DNA for the computer network, the network DNA classifying the computer network, and the network DNA comprising at least one of said at least one derived network DNA component indicating a network species classification selected from among a plurality of network species classifications, the network species component indicating the network species is a first species if a first combination of network conditions is identified in the at least one attribute of the computer network; the network species component indicating the network species is a second species if a second combination of network conditions is identified in the at least one attribute of the computer network; and the network species component indicating the network species is a third species if a third combination of network conditions is identified in the at least one attribute of the computer network; selecting a network DNA policy action to execute based on the at least one derived network DNA component meeting at least one condition specified in the network DNA policy; and initiating on the computer connected to the computer network an execution of the network DNA policy action of the network DNA policy, the execution of the network DNA policy action configuring network security settings of the computer that control communication over a connection to the computer network when the at least one derived network DNA components meeting at least one condition specified in the network DNA policy, whereby the network security settings are configured based on the determined network species classification.