Towards Autonomic Minimization of Security Vulnerabilities Exploitation in Hybrid Network Environments

Security is a serious trend in hybrid networks. In this paper, we present a new methodology based on software agents for minimizing the dissemination of vulnerabilities in this kind of networks. The suitable placement of software agents in the network could enhance and minimize the spreading of exploitation of vulnerabilities in networked systems and devices. Each agent can propagate warnings to their neighbors and therefore alert them of impending threats. Using this approach, the overall awareness of the network to security vulnerabilities and exposures is increased. Moreover, in this kind of network environments susceptible of high fluctuation in the number of connected systems and frequent migration between network segments, a distributed vulnerability assessment could minimize potential threats to security