Columbia Technology Ventures

Secure cloud computing architectures using Realm containers

This technology is a computing system built on Arm’s Confidential Compute Architecture to enhance security for confidential virtual machines while yielding better performance and lowering virtualization costs.

Unmet Need: Lightweight, high-security cloud computing architecture

Cloud computing using virtual machines has greatly expanded and increased connectivity, remote work abilities, and global computing access and progress. Unfortunately, virtual machines, which are generally deployed via guest operating systems, are complex, bulky, and vulnerable to compromise and attack by cybersecurity breaches. Major computing companies, such as Arm, AMD, and Intel, have support for confidential computing environments; however, their confidential virtual machines rely on commodity operating systems, which are complex and vulnerable.

The Technology: Confidential cloud computing with efficient, OS-independent Realm Containers

This technology describes a set and class of Realm containers, which provides enhanced security for confidential virtual machines, yielding better performance and lowering virtualization costs. The system utilizes a special type of kernel system, which provides enhanced security measures without relying on too much of the commodity operating system’s architecture. As such, this system has the potential to increase the speed and robustness of virtual cloud machine applications in a plethora of areas, including artificial intelligence computing systems.

Applications:

  • Lightweight cloud computing platform
  • Cybersecurity
  • Enhanced virtual machines
  • Digital wallets
  • Artificial intelligence

Advantages:

  • High security
  • Low cost
  • Encrypted data handing
  • Lightweight

Lead Inventor:

Jason Nieh, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

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