University researchers and IBM have developed an experimental technique that offers increased security for sensitive information in cloud computing. The approach, called Strongly Isolated Computing Environment [SICE], provides a “different layer of protection” without significantly affecting the system’s performance.

According to Peng Ning, computer science associate professor, cloud computing allows different users to share a common resource — in most cases that is the Internet or networked computer servers.

“Users have no option but to trust their service providers, the hardware and software provided by them,” Ning said. “The concern arises when a user has to put some sensitive data in the computing cloud. There is every possibility for other entities to access the data.”

Cloud computing technology has programs called hypervisors. Ning said hypervisors control everything and virtualize computer hardware and the software.

“In this technology, the hypervisor is the trusted computing base, [or TCB],” Ning said. software.”

Ning’s next move is to implement this in Intel processors.