Securing the cloudFujitsu develops inter-cloud data security technology
With the advent of cloud computing, the boundary separating internal and external data has become increasingly blurred due to the utilization of external services; as a result, existing methods of preventing data leakage, such as only using a gateway to block the outflow of confidential data, have become insufficient, and there is increased demand for new security technology to allow the safe use of confidential data even in the cloud; Fujitsu offers a new data leakage prevention technology in cloud computing environments
Kawasaki, Japan-based Fujitsu Laboratories announced the development of security technology that enables confidential data to be safely shared among different computing clouds.
With the advent of cloud computing, the boundary separating internal and external data has become increasingly blurred due to the utilization of external services. As a result, existing methods of preventing data leakage, such as only using a gateway to block the outflow of confidential data, have become insufficient, and there is increased demand for new security technology to allow the safe use of confidential data even in the cloud.
Fujitsu has developed new cloud information gateway technology that masks confidential information contained within data before it is processed in the cloud and that transfers applications from the cloud to inside the company for internal processing, thereby making it possible to utilize cloud services without transmitting actual data. The company says that this technology enables users safely to utilize confidential data in the cloud, encouraging new uses of cloud computing, such as cross-industry collaborations and specialized uses in specific industries.
Details of this technology were presented yesterday, 19 October, at the Computer Security Symposium 2010 (CSS2010), which is being held this week in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Background
With the rapid adoption of cloud computing-based services, an increasing number of users are expected to employ clouds to safely utilize confidential data as part of cross-industry collaborations. Currently, users have to choose between the confidentiality offered by private networks and the convenience offered by the cloud, but increasingly they will have to entrust clouds with confidential data.
Until now, Fujitsu Laboratories has developed technology to prevent the unwanted disclosure of various data, including preventing leaks from paper-based materials and data stored in USB memory devices. In anticipation of the age of cloud computing, however, new technology to prevent information leaks is becoming necessary.
Technological challenges
Existing techniques for preventing information leaks include encryption and the blocking of the outflow of confidential data before it reaches a company’s external boundary. In the age of cloud computing, however, the boundary separating internal and external data has become increasingly blurred due to the utilization of external services. As a result, services cannot be employed if a user simply blocks or encrypts classified data.
Furthermore, such methods would make it impossible for multiple companies to securely use each other’s data in the cloud.
Fujitsu’s new cloud security technology
To address these challenges, Fujitsu Laboratories developed new cloud information gateway technology that can flexibly control
