Secure Cloud Computing Platform Focus on New Collaboration
April 20, 2012
The lack of secure cloud computing has been one of the biggest issues facing companies that want to move their operations into the cloud, but which are concerned about the deployment of sensitive data into the perceived unsecure environment of cloud computing.
Three companies, LynuxWorks, Inc., TransLattice, and Fritz Technologies Corporation, which are already known for providing solutions to data-sensitive customers like the government, have announced their collaboration to produce a secure cloud platform. The S.E.C.U.R.E. (Secure, Enterprise, Cross-Domain, Unified, Resilient Environment) platform is ideal for creating cloud deployments in highly sensitive environments…
"Customers today are looking to move their applications and data into the cloud, while maintaining the security of sensitive data," said Frank Huerta, CEO and co-founder at TransLattice, in an article at SYS-CON. "We are very confident that the S.E.C.U.R.E. platform will help meet the needs of our customers."
How the Collaboration Works
All three companies intend to bring their own expertise to the platform. Fritz Technologies used LynxSecure 4.0 from LynuxWorks to create a first-generation separation kernel (SepKer) based on a secure server. This SepKer uses a trusted platform module (TPM) to enable a trusted boot with the enhanced administrative ability to support multiple domains on varied applications, and it is compatible with land, shipboard, or airborne deployment.
Efficiency was added to the SepKer using TransLattice’s lattice data distribution. This allows data and applications to be distributed securely across multiple virtual machines (VMs), ensuring uninterrupted operations even with one or more components of the lattice system down. This means that continuity of the data application is maintained even when a system node is down, or even if multiple nodes are lost.
S.E.C.U.R.E. maintains domain separation while realizing military-standard security levels and improved resilience through the use of the lattice distribution system.
Real World Applications and Issues
While the collaboration is focused on military and government applications, the S.E.C.U.R.E. platform is equally translatable to industries requiring highly mobile, reliable and secure cloud computing solutions. Industries such as shipping and logistics can benefit from the geographic independence that land-, sea-, and air-deployment compatibility brings, while financial institutions and businesses storing sensitive customer data like credit card information benefit from the advanced security of the system.
A number of security breaches and system failures in 2011–including some associated with the big names in cloud computing–resulted from a lack of cloud security and reliability. Any company with sensitive data to store and transmit will hesitate to move operations into the cloud if the security risks are not mitigated. Of course, not all the security problems associated with the cloud originate in the cloud. Poor password practices, for example, can lead to increased breaches.
The fact that the new platform is intended for compatibility with military use will bring a lot of business from midsize companies to the table simply because of the assurances of security this implies. The new platform was showcased at the Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems Worldwide 2012 Conference along with other innovations from over 2,000 participants.
The military interest in cloud security also extends beyond just the security of its own applications into the level of national security. Cyber attacks are making their way out of the realm of science fiction and into reality at alarming speeds, so it is no wonder the military is looking for tight security when it comes to their computing needs. Conversely, the S.E.C.U.R.E. platform may well be in need of the high-level security it boasts, as its association with the military may increase its value as a target of cyber attacks.