System and method for distributed network acess and control enabling high availability, security and survivability

摘要

A system, method and computer program that administers access and security on a network having more than one computer system connected thereto. This system, method and computer program has a local password file ( 1500 ) which is one-way encrypted and contains user identifications, associated one-way encrypted passwords and associated privileges for each authorized user allowed access to the wide area network ( 10 ). A user login module ( 1200 ) is used to receive a user identification or role and password from a user and login the user when a match is found in the local password file ( 1500 ). A channel monitoring and filtering module ( 1000 ) is provided to monitor and receive broadcast or multicast messages within the wide area network ( 10 ) and display the message to the user when the user's associated privileges permit the viewing of the message. This system, method and computer program also has a password management module ( 1300 ) to update and insure that all the computers in the network contain the same local password file ( 1500 ). A remote auditing module ( 1400 ) is provided to monitor and process anomalous events which may occur on a user's computer. A remote control module is also provided to enable a systems administrator or security officer to take appropriate action when a critical event transpires. An authentication module is also provided to enable a system administrator or security officer an option to check and confirm a password entered by a user for re-authentication.