Google challenges developers to improve cloud security

There are many ways to secure data contained in a database. The security of data on networks is more difficult. But what about data that is actively used in cloud devices and services? Google is now also trying to find security methods for this.

To this end, Google announces the confidential computing challenge. This challenge was conceived to stimulate innovation in cloud security by using confidential computing techniques. In practice, this means that developers are challenged to come up with new ways to secure actively used data.

Using Asylo

The developers have to live in the United States to participate in the challenge of Google. They have until April 1st to come up with a new idea. The winner will also receive $15,000, $5,000 in Google Cloud Platform credit and a hardware surprise. Not only does Google hope the challenge is to encourage developers to develop more security methods, it also wants to send more people to its own software.

Last May, Google launched Asylo, an open-source framework that is precisely intended for confidential computing. This has also been applied to the Google Cloud, which in terms of number of customers lags behind competitors such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. In any case, Asylo should make it easier to run data within certain familiar environments. The name is Greek for safe place.

However, it is sometimes difficult for developers to set up good security methods for this. This is because a specific form of hardware is often required. This poses a major challenge for developers, according to Brandon Baker, one of the developers of cloud security within Google. Currently, the software relies on specific chips, including Intel’s SGX, AMD’s SEV and the ARM TrustZone.

With this challenge, Google hopes to send more developers in its direction.