EFFICIENT MATCHING OF FEATURE-RICH SECURITY POLICY WITH DYNAMIC CONTENT USING USER GROUP MATCHING

摘要

A method for filtering data packets at a firewall system is disclosed that includes receiving a data packet having a plurality of fields at a processor, and determining whether a precondition exists, where an action is associated the precondition. The action associated with the precondition is performed if it is determined that the precondition exists. The data packet is processed using a plurality of rules if it is determined that the precondition does not exist for the one or more of the plurality of fields. A user associated with the data packet is identified, and it is determined whether one or more rules are stored in a cache for one or more of a plurality of groups associated with the user. The data packet is processed using the one or more rules stored in the cache if present.