Patent ID: 8474031

Claim:
A method of controlling access to computing resources, comprising: providing a first computing device with access to a database containing data indicative of a plurality of computing resources access to which is controlled by said first computing device and a minimum level of required security capability that a second computing device must possess to be provided with access to said respective computing resources; assigning said second computing device a security capability; determining security audit data in real-time, after manufacture of the second computing device, the security audit data including at least current hardware and software configuration and current software state of the second computing device; providing said second computing device with data indicative of said security capability; configuring said first computing device to respond to receiving said data indicative of said security capability and data indicative of a desired access from said second computing device by ascertaining the minimum level of required security capability corresponding to said desired access and by comparing said minimum level of required security capability with said security capability of said second computing device; and providing said desired access if said security capability of said second computing device meets said minimum security capability for said desired access.