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At this month’s Open Source Software Summit NA, Mike Bursell, Executive Director of the Confidential Computing Consortium, presented at the session “Decoding Trust in Confidential Computing” with Sal Kimmich, Technical Community Architect, also with the CCC. The session explored trust in computing, merging confidential computing and open-source principles. 

Mike and Sal discussed frameworks for trust in Confidential Computing  environments, including technological protocols, human factors, and trust in open source. Case studies revealed hardware-level attestation in confidential computing and the philosophical dimensions of open source. Join us for a deep dive into computing trust, where technical, communal, and policy aspects converge. 

Read more below for greater insights.

Confidential Computing Definition

Confidential computing safeguards data in use by conducting computations within hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). It is defined as “the protection of data in use by performing computation in a hardware-based, attested Trusted Execution Environment.”

Introduction to Trust in Confidential Computing

Trust in Confidential Computing hinges on components such as the software supply chain, key management, cloud computing, software correctness, AI provenance, identity, authorization/authentication, data privacy, hardware supply chain, and cryptographic primitives. The fundamental question arises: Whom do we trust, and for what purposes?

Workloads and Host

In the standard virtualization model, VMs and containers handle Type 1 and Type 2 workloads well, while Type 3 poses challenges that VMs and containers cannot adequately address. Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) become crucial for Type 3 isolation, particularly for cloud-native workloads involving sensitive data and applications. Hardware-based TEEs offer Type 3 isolation as well as Types 1 and 2.

Trust in Open Source

The Open-Source Software (OSS) community endorses trust, with its roots in software primitives and derivable properties. This endorsement isn’t confined to monolithic authorities but is embodied within communities. Exposing this endorsement through commercial implementations/distributions, open-source foundations, and decentralized organizations is essential.

Pillars of Trust in Confidential Computing

Trust in Confidential Computing rests on several pillars: Tools of Trust (trust anchors) encompassing hardware, firmware, and software; Derivable properties including integrity, confidentiality, identity, and uniqueness; and Primitives such as hardware-based TEEs. Endorsers, including silicon, firmware, software, and the open-source community, play a vital role in building trust. They are not solely monolithic authorities but can represent the collective authority of a community.

The Role of the Confidential Computing Consortium

The Confidential Computing Consortium plays a pivotal role in instilling confidence among businesses, regulators, and standards bodies through the technical maturity of the open-source community. Examples of applications include Microsoft’s migration of credit card processing to Confidential Computing, the University of Freiburg’s adoption of collaborative research platforms, combating human trafficking and modern slavery, AI inference for data and model protection, remote attestation models, standardized ABIs, and database protection models.

Confidential Computing is not merely a potential open-source technology but a necessary one. Its foundation in open-source principles is indispensable for fostering trust and security in the digital landscape.

The Confidential Computing Consortium is a community focused on projects securing data in use and accelerating the adoption of confidential computing through open collaboration and bringing together hardware vendors, cloud providers, and software developers to accelerate the adoption of Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) technologies and standards.

Learn how you and your organization can get involved .

At the heart of cybersecurity, the CIA triad is a model designed to guide policies for information security within an organization. It consists of three fundamental principles:

Confidentiality: Ensures that sensitive information is accessed only by authorized parties and is protected against unauthorized access. Techniques such as data encryption, secure authentication, and access controls are employed to maintain confidentiality.

Integrity: Guarantees that information is reliable and accurate, safeguarding it from unauthorized modification. Integrity is upheld through mechanisms like checksums, cryptographic hashes, and digital signatures, ensuring that data remains unaltered from its original state unless modified by authorized entities.

Availability: Ensures that information and resources are available to authorized users when needed. This involves protecting against attacks that disrupt access to resources, such as DDoS attacks, and implementing disaster recovery plans to maintain service continuity.

Confidential Computing (CC) enhances the traditional CIA triad by focusing on protecting data in use—complementing existing measures that protect data at rest and in transit. By leveraging hardware-based security mechanisms such as Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), CC enables sensitive data to be processed in isolated environments, thus offering a unique opportunity to reexamine and reinforce the principles of the CIA triad in modern computing scenarios.

Aligning with the CIA Triad

Confidentiality in Confidential Computing: The essence of Confidential Computing lies in its ability to ensure that data being processed remains confidential, even in shared or cloud environments. Through technologies like Intel SGX and TDX, AMD SEV-SNP, and ARM CCA provide hardware-based, attested Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) which protect from unauthorized access, including operators of cloud services.

Integrity in Confidential Computing: CC technologies also play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of data and code execution. Confidential Computing allows for the verification of software and data integrity before execution, ensuring that only authorized code runs within TEEs. This is instrumental in preventing unauthorized modifications and ensuring that computations are performed accurately.

Availability in Confidential Computing: While confidentiality and integrity are the primary focus of Confidential Computing, it also contributes to availability by enhancing the overall security posture. By mitigating the risk of data breaches and ensuring the integrity of computing processes, CC supports the uninterrupted availability of services, fostering trust and reliability in digital ecosystems.

Confidential Computing: A Journey Through the CIA Triad

Confidential Computing (CC) stands as a pivotal advancement in the realm of cybersecurity, offering robust mechanisms to protect data in use and reinforcing the principles of the CIA triad—Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability—in novel and powerful ways. There are several key takeaways emerge:

Confidential Computing enhances the traditional CIA triad by introducing protections for data in use, alongside existing measures for data at rest and in transit. The evolution of CC technologies demonstrates a concerted effort to address the complexities of modern computing environments, ensuring that sensitive data can be processed securely and reliably.

Integrity and confidentiality are paramount in CC, with innovations providing mechanisms for verifying the authenticity and safeguarding the privacy of data during processing.

Availability, while indirectly impacted by CC, benefits from the improved security posture that CC technologies bring to digital infrastructures, supporting the reliability and accessibility of services.

As the landscape of digital threats continues to evolve, so too will the technologies and strategies employed to counter them. Confidential Computing represents a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity, promising to play a crucial role in safeguarding the future of digital information processing.

Further Reading and Resources

To further explore the concepts and technologies discussed, the following resources serve as a starting point for those seeking to deepen their understanding of Confidential Computing and its significance in today’s cybersecurity landscape. By engaging with these materials, you’ll gain a more nuanced appreciation of the challenges and opportunities that Confidential Computing presents:

1. The Confidential Computing Consortium: An initiative by the Linux Foundation, this consortium brings together industry leaders to collaborate on open-source projects and standards for Confidential Computing.

2. NIST on Confidential Computing: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides resources and publications that address the technical aspects and standards related to Confidential Computing.

Authored by Sal Kimmich

Blog Post

As we continue our exploration of Confidential Computing, this week we focus on a crucial aspect that is often the unsung hero of technological advancement: open source. Specifically, we’ll examine how open-source initiatives are contributing significantly to the development and implementation of Confidential Computing.

Open Source: A Foundation for Innovation

Open-source software is built on the principle of collaboration and transparency. It allows developers from around the world to contribute to and review each other’s code, fostering innovation and rapid problem-solving. This collaborative approach is particularly beneficial in the realm of cybersecurity, where the sharing of knowledge and resources is key to staying ahead of threats.

Open Source in Confidential Computing

In the context of Confidential Computing, open source plays a pivotal role. Open-source projects provide the foundation for many Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) and other secure computing technologies. By leveraging open-source software, developers can create more robust, secure, and versatile solutions for data protection.

Advantages of Open Source in Security

One of the main advantages of open source in the field of Confidential Computing is transparency. Open-source code can be inspected by anyone, which means vulnerabilities can be identified and addressed more quickly than in proprietary software. This transparency builds trust and reliability, essential components in any security solution.

Linux: A Testament to Open-Source Success

Reflecting on the impact of open source, we can’t overlook Linux, released in 1991 and now a cornerstone of open-source software. Linux’s success demonstrates how collaborative efforts can lead to robust and widely-used technology solutions. It’s a testament to the power of open-source communities in driving innovation.

Challenges and Opportunities

While open source offers many benefits, it also presents unique challenges, particularly in terms of coordination and quality control. However, these challenges are often outweighed by the opportunities for innovation and the rapid development cycle that open source enables.

Looking Ahead

As Confidential Computing continues to evolve, the role of open source will undoubtedly expand. Open-source communities will continue to be vital in developing secure, efficient, and adaptable solutions for data protection in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Next Week’s Focus

Join us next week as we delve into the intricacies of data encryption in Confidential Computing. We’ll explore how encryption techniques are being enhanced and applied in new ways to protect data not just at rest and in transit, but also during processing.

Explore the four-part series on Confidential Computing—a vital innovation for data privacy and security. Dive in now!

Part I –  Introduction to Confidential Computing:  A Year Long Exploration

Part II – The Evolution of Cybersecurity:  From Early Threats to Modern Challenges

Part III– Basics of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs):  The Heart of Confidential Computing

Authored by Sal Kimmich

Authored by Sal KimmichAs we delve deeper into our exploration of Confidential Computing, this week we turn our attention to a critical component that plays a central role in this technology: Trusted Execution Environments, or TEEs. Understanding TEEs is key to appreciating how Confidential Computing enhances data security.

What are Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs)?

At its simplest, a Trusted Execution Environment is a secure area within a processor. It guarantees that the code and data loaded inside it are protected with respect to confidentiality and integrity. Essentially, TEEs provide a kind of ‘safe room’ for sensitive operations, ensuring that even if a system is compromised, the data within the TEE remains secure.

How Do TEEs Work?

TEEs operate by isolating specific computations, data, or both, from the rest of the device or network. This isolation is hardware-based, which makes it highly resistant to external attacks, including those from the operating system itself. Within a TEE, code can run without risk of interference or snooping from other processes.

The Role of TEEs in Confidential Computing

In the context of Confidential Computing, TEEs are invaluable. They allow sensitive data to be processed in a secure environment, ensuring that it remains encrypted and inaccessible to unauthorized users or processes. This is particularly crucial when handling personal data, intellectual property, or any information requiring strict confidentiality.

Applications of TEEs

The applications of TEEs are vast and varied. They are used in mobile device security, cloud computing, IoT devices, and more. In each case, TEEs provide a layer of security that is vital in today’s interconnected and often vulnerable digital landscape.

A Look Back at Computing History

As we discuss these advanced concepts, it’s fascinating to reflect on how far we’ve come. Consider the ENIAC, unveiled in 1946 and considered the first general-purpose electronic computer. The journey from such rudimentary computing to today’s sophisticated TEEs underscores the incredible advancements in technology.

Next Steps in Our Journey

Understanding TEEs is just the beginning. As we continue our series, we’ll explore how these environments are implemented and the various challenges and solutions associated with them. 

Stay Tuned

Up next we will delve into the role of open source in Confidential Computing. Open source initiatives are pivotal in the development and adoption of TEEs, offering transparency and collaborative opportunities that are essential in today’s cybersecurity landscape.

Explore the four-part series on Confidential Computing—a vital innovation for data privacy and security. Dive in now!

Part I –  Introduction to Confidential Computing:  A Year Long Exploration

Part II – The Evolution of Cybersecurity:  From Early Threats to Modern Challenges

Part IV– Collaborative Security:  The Role of Open Source in Confidential Computing

Authored by Sal Kimmich

As we continue our journey through the world of Confidential Computing, it’s essential to understand the backdrop against which this technology has emerged. This week, we delve into the evolution of cybersecurity, tracing its journey from the early days of computing to the sophisticated landscape we navigate today.

The Early Days of Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity, in its infancy, was a game of cat and mouse between emerging technologies and the threats that shadowed them. The earliest computers, massive and isolated, faced minimal security concerns. However, as technology advanced and computers became interconnected, the need for robust cybersecurity measures became apparent.

The Birth of Computer Viruses and Antivirus Software

The 1980s marked a significant turning point with the advent of the first computer viruses. Among these early threats was the Brain virus, which led to the creation of the first antivirus software in 1987. This was a pivotal moment, signaling the start of an ongoing battle against cyber threats.

The Internet Era and Its Challenges

The explosion of the internet in the 1990s and early 2000s brought cybersecurity to the forefront. The connectivity that empowered businesses and individuals also opened up new vulnerabilities. Viruses, worms, and later, sophisticated malware, posed significant risks, leading to the development of more advanced cybersecurity solutions.

The Rise of Cybercrime

As technology continued to evolve, so did the nature of threats. Cybercrime became a lucrative business, with hackers targeting not just computers but entire networks. Data breaches, identity theft, and ransomware attacks became common, causing significant financial and reputational damage to individuals and organizations.

The Current Landscape: A Complex Battlefield

Today, cybersecurity is an intricate field, encompassing everything from endpoint security to network defenses, and now, Confidential Computing. The threats have become more sophisticated, leveraging AI and machine learning, making proactive and advanced defense mechanisms essential.

Confidential Computing: A New Frontier in Cybersecurity

This brings us to Confidential Computing – a response to the modern need for enhanced data protection. As we’ve seen, cybersecurity is no longer just about preventing unauthorized access; it’s about ensuring data integrity and confidentiality at every stage, including during processing.

Looking Ahead

The evolution of cybersecurity is a testament to the ever-changing landscape of technology. As we continue to innovate, so too will the methods to protect our digital assets. Confidential Computing is part of this ongoing evolution, representing the next step in securing our digital future.

A Fun Reminder of Our Journey

Reflecting on this evolution, it’s fascinating to think that the journey from the Brain virus to today’s sophisticated cyber threats led to the birth of an entire industry. The first antivirus software in 1987 was just the beginning of what has become a critical and ever-evolving field.

Stay Tuned

Next week, we’ll dive deeper into the world of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), a cornerstone of Confidential Computing. Join us as we explore how TEEs provide a secure space for data processing, marking a significant advancement in our quest for cybersecurity.

Explore the four-part series on Confidential Computing—a vital innovation for data privacy and security. Dive in now!

Part I –  Introduction to Confidential Computing:  A Year Long Exploration

Part III– Basics of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs):  The Heart of Confidential Computing

Part IV– Collaborative Security:  The Role of Open Source in Confidential Computing

Authored by Sal Kimmich

Welcome to the first blog Confidential Computing Consortium blog series to help new members navigate the transformative landscape of Confidential Computing, a crucial advancement in safeguarding data privacy and security.

What is Confidential Computing?

Confidential Computing is a cutting-edge approach that protects data in use by encrypting it within Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). These secure areas of a processor ensure data is inaccessible to other applications, the operating system, and even cloud providers, safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized access or leaks during processing. This technology is foundational in addressing the critical challenge of protecting data throughout its lifecycle, offering a new dimension of security for our digital world.

The Significance

In an era where data privacy concerns are paramount, Confidential Computing emerges as a vital solution. It enables businesses and individuals to compute with confidence, knowing their data remains secure and private, even in shared infrastructure environments. This technology fosters trust and facilitates secure data collaboration, unlocking new possibilities in cloud computing and beyond.

Our Journey Ahead

This blog series will explore these topics (and many more!):

1. The Evolution of Confidential Computing

2. Insights into Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs)

3. The Vital Role of Open Source in Confidential Computing

We’ll examine its transformative impact across industries, its pivotal role in emerging technologies, and how it underpins secure, data-driven innovations. This exploration is designed for tech enthusiasts, industry professionals, and anyone curious about the next frontier in digital security.

Learn more with Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

The Confidential Computing Consortium (CCC) champions this technology through collaborative efforts, including Special Interest Groups (SIGs). These SIGs are integral to: SIG meetings are open to everyone, emphasizing the consortium’s commitment to inclusivity and collaboration. There’s no membership requirement to join these discussions, making it an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in contributing to or learning more about confidential computing.

Be Part of the Movement

By joining our journey, you become a part of a community dedicated to advancing confidential computing. This series promises to deepen your understanding and provide resources that can be easily shared for collaborative efforts driving this technology forward.

Stay tuned as we reveal the fascinating world of Confidential Computing, and it’s critical role in privacy-enhancing technologies. If there is any topic you would love us to cover in this series, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to skimmich@contractor.linuxfoundation.org. 

Explore the four-part series on Confidential Computing—a vital innovation for data privacy and security. Dive in now!

Part II – The Evolution of Cybersecurity:  From Early Threats to Modern Challenges

Part III– Basics of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs):  The Heart of Confidential Computing

Part IV– Collaborative Security:  The Role of Open Source in Confidential Computing