Patent ID: 8234687

Claim:
A method of establishing and regulating secure communications between a first computer and a second computer over a network, the first computer and second computer being part of a security system that regulates the security of the first computer during communications with the second computer, where the second computer is a subscriber to the security system, comprising: the first computer identifying whether the second computer is a subscriber to the security system by referencing a listing of subscriber second computers provided by the security system; on identifying that the second computer is a subscriber, the first computer: (i) facilitating connection to the second computer; (ii) supervising all outgoing data submissions; and (iii) referencing the security system to determine which security policies relating to the second computer apply for regulating communications with the second computer; on receiving a connection from the first computer, the second computer depending on its requirements, initiating: (i) a configuration process on the first computer to ensure adherence of the first computer to certain security policies applicable to communications with the second computer; (ii) a configuration process on the first computer to secure the first computer in a lockdown mode; or (iii) an examination process on the first computer in order to obtain information relating to the configuration of the first computer to determine whether communications proceed or restrictions to communications should apply; the first computer communicating the results of the examination process or the configuration process to the second computer; on determining that communications should proceed, applying the applicable security policies of the second computer to the first computer; and regulating communications between the first computer and second computer in accordance with the applied security policies.