Today HyTrust demonstrated new technological capabilities jointly developed with Intel and VMware, aimed at enhancing security and policy enforcement in cloud computing environments.
This proof of concept combines HyTrust Appliance with Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT) and VMware platform technology currently in development to show customers how they can build and enforce policies that govern the behavior of virtualized cloud infrastructure. Cloud computing is gaining momentum as a way for customers to dynamically scale virtualized computing resources as a service on demand based on business need. Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the “cloud” that supports them. As customers turn to cloud computing for its benefits—convenient, cost effective, on-demand access of computing resources—they are seeking a trusted platform that is secure and provides service identity.
As part of the combined solution, Intel TXT helps attest to platform identity and trust-worthiness with hardware-based mechanisms that enable controlled launch and registration of critical infrastructure software, helping to establish trust and protect the confidentiality and integrity of software applications and data—a critical prerequisite for building a trusted cloud computing platform. Combining VMware platform technology currently in development with the HyTrust Appliance complement Intel® TXT boot measurement via the VMware vSphere™ 4 Web Services SDK to determine and manage which virtualized cloud operations are allowed or disallowed based on the integrity of the underlying platform.
“Intel TXT helps protect vital data and processes by providing an attestation mechanism for critical system software such as hypervisors against malicious software. Intel TXT enhances the security capabilities of virtualization solutions and builds additional levels of trust, which will help drive further adoption of cloud computing,” said Doug Fisher, Intel VP and GM System Software Division. “Intel software engineers have worked closely with VMware to develop optimizations in vSphere that take full advantage of the platform security features delivered by Intel TXT.”
“HyTrust Appliance provides a single point of control for virtual infrastructure and establishes policies that traverse internal and external clouds,” said Eric Chiu, CEO of HyTrust. “Working with innovators like Intel and VMware allows our rich policy engine to have solid rooting in the infrastructure layer and, ultimately, drive adoption of IaaS.”
“Customers looking to leverage the simplified computing model that service providers offer still demand the same levels of reliability, security and availability that can be accomplished with an in-house datacenter,” said Dr. Stephen Herrod, CTO and Sr. VP of R&D, VMware. “HyTrust proof of concept built on VMware technology that we’re working on in the labs helps take these benefits to a new level and furthers our commitment to developing cloud services that help customers streamline their IT operations without incurring cost, complexity or risk.”