Systems and methods for security protocol execution in a hierarchical state machine-driven execution plan

A security manager apparatus comprising:

• memory;
• instructions;
• and
• processor circuitry to execute the instructions to at least:
• determine a guard condition governing a transition between a first state of operation and a second state of operation;
• formulate an execution plan based on the first and second states and the guard condition;
• and
• instantiate a hierarchical state machine to implement the execution plan.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause processor circuitry to at least:

• determine a guard condition regulating a transition between a first state of operation and a second state of operation;
• form an execution plan based on the first and second states and the guard condition;
• and
• generate a hierarchical state machine to implement the execution plan.

A method to manage security in a distributed system, the method comprising:

• determining, by executing an instruction using processor circuitry, a guard condition governing a transition between a first state of operation and a second state of operation;
• formulating, by executing an instruction using the processor circuitry, an execution plan using the first and second states and the guard condition;
• and
• instantiating, by executing an instruction using the processor circuitry, a hierarchical state machine to implement the execution plan.