NetBOM Files Patent to Reinvent Network Access Control for Connected Devices

Aug 17

Introduction

On August 17, 2025, NetBOM filed a U.S. provisional patent to transform how connected devices and applications are secured at the network level.

The application, titled “System and Method for Automated Synthesis of Enforceable Network Behavior Policies Through Machine Learning Analysis of Device Communication Patterns,” addresses a critical cybersecurity gap: the lack of a standardized way to define and enforce what devices are actually supposed to do on a network.

The Innovation

Traditional network security relies on broad rules, anomaly detection, and reactive response. NetBOM flips that model by defining device intent upfront, what each device is legitimately supposed to do, and enforcing it with mathematical precision through formal policy validation.

This patent protects NetBOM’s core innovations:

NetBOM files
An open, vendor-neutral format for describing the expected network behavior of devices and applications. NetBOM files enable enforcement of least-privilege policies by specifying exactly what a device is allowed to do, and nothing more.
Automated NetBOM generation
Machine learning algorithms observe network behavior and generate enforceable policies, even for legacy systems without vendor support.
Privacy-preserving threat intelligence
Federated learning enables networks to share threat signals without exposing sensitive internal data.
Real-time enforcement integration
Seamless policy deployment across NetBOM-aware firewalls, gateways, and infrastructure to make least-privilege networking automatic.

Why Now

With the explosion of IoT, OT, unmanaged applications, and remote connectivity, legacy perimeter-based controls no longer scale. The attack surface has outgrown traditional visibility tools and static ACLs.

NetBOM introduces a new model: define known-good behavior, validate it, and enforce it continuously, even as devices evolve or vendors disappear.

Balancing Innovation and Openness

This patent marks a pivotal step in protecting the technology behind NetBOM, but our commitment to openness remains central.

IP protection ensures we can:

Attract investment and build a sustainable organization
Support open-source contributors and ecosystem development
Collaborate with regulators and vendors from a position of leadership

By combining open specifications with defensible innovation, we can grow the NetBOM community while ensuring long-term viability and adoption.

The Bottom Line

This patent positions NetBOM to lead the industry transition from reactive network security to predictive, enforceable device behavior policies, a fundamental shift that every connected organization will eventually need to make.

What’s Next

Now that our patent is filed, we’re accelerating progress across multiple fronts:

Publishing reference implementations for leading firewall and gateway platforms
Establishing the NetBOM Foundation to steward the open spec
Preparing international PCT filings for global protection
Deepening engagement with industry partners and policy makers