ITR - (NHS) - (int/dmc): Secure Remote Computing Services

Columbia University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

Proposal Number CNS-0426623 TITLE: ITR: Secure Remote Computing Services PI: Jason Nieh ABSTRACT Secure remote computing services (SRCS) will be developed as a critical information technology (IT) infrastructure. SRCS will move all application logic and data from insecure end-user devices, which attackers can easily corrupt, steal and destroy, to autonomic server farms in physically secure, remote data centers that can rapidly adapt to computing demands especially in times of crisis. Users can then access their computing state from anywhere, anytime, using simple, stateless Internet-enabled devices. SRCS builds on the hypothesis that a combination of lightweight process migration, remote display technology, overlay-based security and trust-management access control mechanisms, driven by an autonomic management utility, can result in a significant improvement in overall system reliability and security. The results of this effort will enable SRCS implementations to provide many benefits, including persistence and continuity of business logic, minimizing the cost of localized computing failures, robust protection against attacks, and transparent user mobility with global computing access. SRCS in time of crisis specifically addresses a major concern of national and homeland security. The substantially lowered total cost of ownership of applications running on SRCS is anticipated to dramatically reduce the gap between IT haves and have nots.