By Steven Price

We live in an age where environmental consciousness has met the relentless pace of technological advancement. The emergence of green cloud computing stands as a beacon of hope for a sustainable future. Thisinnovative approach to cloud technologynot only empowers businesses but also plays a pivotal role in mitigating the environmental impact of technology.

Cloud computing has undergone a remarkable evolution over the years, driven by the growing need for sustainable technology solutions. Lets delve deeper into its journey and why it has gained widespread adoption:

One of the cornerstones of cloud computing is its focus on energy efficiency. Green cloud providers have made substantial strides in optimizing data centers to minimize energy consumption.

Through advanced cooling techniques, hardware innovations, and data center design improvements, these providers have significantly reduced the carbon footprint associated with data center operations.

Many leading cloud providers have committed to using renewable energy sources topower their data centers. Investments in solar, wind, and hydropower have become increasingly common, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and helping to transition towards a more sustainable energy landscape.

Green cloud providers continuously optimize their data center resources. Through server virtualization, consolidation, and load balancing, they ensure that computing resources are utilized efficiently, reducing both energy consumption and operational costs.

This commitment to resource optimization ensures progressive ethical growth in areas that were previously detrimental.

The adoption of cloud computingoffers a multitude of ethical advantages that resonate with businesses, individuals, and society at large:

By choosing cloud computing, businesses can significantly reduce their carbon emissions. This ethical choice aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and protect the environment for future generations. It reflects a commitment to responsible business practices and corporate social responsibility which can aid you well when picking up new leads.

Green cloud providers prioritize sustainable energy consumption, minimizing the carbon footprint associated with IT operations. This approach contributes to a more sustainable future by reducing the strain on global energy resources.

Traditional on-premise IT infrastructure often leads to electronic waste when hardware becomes obsolete. Out with the old, in with the new doesnt have to be tangiblegreen cloud computing reduces the need for on-site hardware, thereby minimizing electronic waste and its associated environmental impact.

In turn, this aligns with responsible waste management practices and contributes to a circular economy.

Embracing green cloud computing showcases a companys commitment to sustainability. It enhances an organizations reputation, making it more attractive to environmentally conscious customers, partners, and investors. It can also open doors to partnerships and collaborations with like-minded businesses and initiatives.

Cloud computing not only benefits the environment but also delivers cost savings for businesses. Optimizing resource usage and reducing energy consumption aligns with the ethical principle of responsible resource management. This cost-efficiency allows businesses to redirect resources toward innovation and growth.

For businesses seeking to embrace the ethical benefits of green cloud computing and make a positive impact on the environment, Tech Rockstars is your trusted partner. Teck Rockstars specializes in providing sustainable cloud solutions that align with your environmental goals while enhancing efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.Contact Tech Rockstars todayto explore how cloud computing can not only minimize your carbon footprint but also drive sustainable growth and innovation for your organization.

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How green cloud computing works to minimize your carbon footprint - Hey SoCal. Change is our intention.

Serverless GPUs Deliver Value at Lower Cost

Serverless technology, often seen as the ultimate incarnation of cloud computing, allows developers to create and run applications in the cloud without provisioning or managing servers or back-end infrastructure.

With serverless GPUs, companies can get the benefits of GPUs while also optimizing for costs and incorporating the scalability of cloud infrastructure to spin capacity up or down as demand requires, Greden says. That is ideal for AI applications that require massive amounts of computing power but arent necessarily being run constantly.

What we now have is a case where the aperture is opening for the market that will want to make use of GPUs, and not just those doing heavy graphical type of computing, she says.

LEARN MORE: How can you use serverless computing to build and modernize applications for scale?

Serverless GPUs essentially operate as a PaaS or even a Function as a Service, allowing organizations to access serverless computing capacity for their applications while avoiding provisioning infrastructure, says Brijesh Kumar, a senior research analyst within IDCs cloud application deployment platforms research practice.

They are ideal for when organizations cannot always predict the traffic load they will have for their cloud computing capacity, he says. The technology can allow them to spin up GPU capacity when requests come in and demand is high, then scale down to zero when requests stop.

The technology also supports multitenancy or multi-instance capabilities, allowing cloud providers to partition serverless GPUs to support multiple workload requests from different users or sources, Kumar notes. Serverless GPUs also reduce costs by removing the need to manage the necessary infrastructure, Kumar says.

WATCH: Discover how DevOps can add speed and efficiency to your process.

However, there are some potential drawbacks to serverless GPUs. Cost can become a constraint, since running a serverless GPU for an extended period of time will rack up charges with an organizations cloud provider. An unexpected spike in requests can also raise costs. And, Greden says, organizations risk being locked in to using a particular cloud provider for serverless GPU capabilities.

Even so, serverless GPUs can quickly deliver answers to users of generative AI applications because of the speed with which they can perform the required computations. And with market demand for GPU chipsets still extremely high, using serverless GPUs could be a critical backstop while silicon providers rush to produce as many GPUs as they can, Greden says.

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Can Serverless GPUs Meet the Computing Demands of Artificial Intelligence? - BizTech Magazine

Government on cloud

In 2024, Indias spending on public cloud services might reach $13.6 billion, an increase from 2020s $4.2 billion, as per insights from Statista, a market research platform. Reportedly, the leading public cloud service was the cloud application infrastructure services, with about over $4.8 billion in end-user spending in 2024. By 2025, newly created data is expected to be 175 zettabytes, a 146-fold increase in the 15 years between 2010 and 2025. The data processing and storage market is estimated to grow from $56 billion in 2020 to $90 billion by 2025, as per insights from IDC, a market research platform.

From what it is understood cloud service providers host their information technology (IT) infrastructure in data centres to provide cloud computing services to the end users. For instance, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) introduced state-of-the-art National Data Centres at NIC headquarters in Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar and 37 small data centres at various state capitals to provide services to the government at all levels. The National Data Centres form the core of the e-governance infrastructure in India by providing services to various e-governance initiatives undertaken by the Government of India.

Boon or Bane

Governments had implemented private cloud at twice the rate of public cloud through 2021, as per insights from Gartner, a market research firm. Case in point, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBIs) Counterterrorism Division moved its data centres to a cloud provider, it measured success in terms of how the cloud helped agents achieve their mission. By making tasks such as information sharing, data entry, and security of information easier, the transition to the cloud resulted in a 98% reduction in time spent on manual work, as per Fedscoop.

Critics argue that while public cloud growth can be healthy in government, concerns around faster adoption still stand questionable. The top three objections to public cloud in government are security or privacy issues, lack of features and concerns about vendor lock-in, among others. Reportedly, the complexity of cloud environments presents an attack surface for hackers. This includes various applications, that can lead to misconfigurations and vulnerabilities, which have made it almost too easy for a hacker to avoid detection. In 2023, about 50% of the attacks focused on defence evasion, as per insights from Aqua Nautilus 2023 Threat Report. There needs to be a balance for a successful cloud transition, advocating for a strategic approach that integrates cyber-security measures and clear governance protocol, Pallav Agarwal, founder, HTS Solutions Private Limited, a cloud computing services provider, explained, adding that policymakers also plays a role in harnessing the benefits of cloud technology while managing associated risks in the governmental context.

Above the cloud

Adopting cloud-based government can be a paradigm change that sits at the nexus of innovation and governance. However, determining whether the cloud is a benefit or a curse for the public sector becomes crucial. Ensuring the secure storage of private data on government cloud is a multifaceted consideration. The potential drawbacks involve concerns about data security and privacy, particularly when dealing with sensitive information such as identity-related data. The principles of zero trust architecture, cyber resilience, data resilience, continuous monitoring and verifying, apply aptly to cloud security, Sunil Gupta, co-founder and CEO, Yotta, a cloud infrastructure service provider, explained, adding that solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, big data powered tools and frameworks, among others are crucial in averting evolving risks.

As per several reports, the government of India developed Meghraj, a public cloud platform designed to harness the advantages of cloud computing and serve as a foundation for artificial intelligence (AI) models. It also launched Digilocker, a cloud storage platform, facilitating the storage, retrieval, and secure transfer of sensitive data and individual documents. It is believed that the governments cloud servers and their access points remain open to multiple users, both nationally and internationally, making it vulnerable to breaches. Furthermore, these servers are also targeted by hackers seeking to undermine public trust in the government and its institutions.While government-appointed engineers and consultants implement state-of-the-art technological measures and develop protocols for enhanced protection, there is a need for training and awareness programs. These initiatives need to emphasise the importance of data security, the potential threat of reputational, financial, and legal damages, and proper post-incident protocols, Arpit Sharma, senior manager, technology research and advisory, Aranca, a research, analytics, and advisory firm, concluded.

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As governments hop onto cloud does it help solve data problems? - The Financial Express

Cloud computing is gaining prominence across all industries because of its scalability, adaptability, and many other advantages. These benefits include cost reductions through efficient virtualization, enhanced peer collaborative capabilities, swift access to documents, transactions, and updates, and extensive scalability. However, as businesses increasingly rely on cloud hosting for storage and computational needs, the vulnerability of their cloud services to cyber attacks rises as well (Jayanti, 2022).

Inadequate security measures pose a financial threat to organizations and carry the potential for severe reputational harm when customer data is compromised, leading to a loss of trust and business opportunities. Consequently, while security experts diligently devise new strategies and policies to combat cyber threats and fortify applications, systems, and networks across their cloud infrastructure, ethical hacking emerges as a proactive means of ensuring security. This blog post delves into the significance of ethical hacking in cloud computing.

Ethical hackers need to understand the specific cloud-based vulnerabilities that require consistent identification, mitigation, and maintenance. This diligence is essential to prevent any potential breaches or related complications that could occur (James, 2023). Although security threats are often intertwined with discussions on vulnerabilities, the ethical hackers perspective on vulnerabilities is nuanced. From the standpoint of penetration testing, the following list encapsulates some of the vulnerabilities to be considered.

Misconfigurations represent a significant factor contributing to substantial data breaches in cloud environments. These misconfigurations include errors or oversights in the security protocols implemented, potentially exposing valuable data to vulnerabilities. Such lapses typically result from a lack of familiarity with best practices or the need for more peer review within the clients DevOps or infrastructure team. Misconfigurations within security groups on the service providers end can grant unauthorized access to the cloud platform and its data, culminating in data theft or loss.

The expansive nature of cloud architecture, spanning diverse environments, introduces intricate pathways for networking and data transit. Vulnerabilities in connection security and access management can result in critical data loss. Human errors, such as weak credentials, insufficient security awareness, susceptibility to phishing attacks, and improper data storage and sharing practices, can all contribute to data theft, putting the data and applications hosted on cloud servers at risk. Subsequently, malicious actions like data deletion, access denial, and data manipulation may contribute to data loss.

Inadequate coding practices have posed a significant challenge in cloud infrastructures for years. A single line of flawed code has the potential to expose many risks and vulnerabilities. Prominent among these vulnerabilities are SQL injections, cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and cross-site scripting (XSS), all of which provide opportunities for attackers to compromise cloud infrastructures due to the presence of insecure coding practices.

A prevalent vulnerability in cloud systems is the presence of insecure identity and access management (IAM). In essence, this occurs when a user or a service within your infrastructure gains access to resources that they should not or do not need to access. Recently, most software and cloud applications mandate robust security measures such as strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and single sign-on (SSO). Cloud applications lacking these robust access management systems are susceptible to data breaches. Security experts strongly endorse implementing organization-wide policies like the principle of least privilege or the zero-trust model as effective measures against potential threats.

APIs serve as meticulously documented interfaces that cloud service providers furnish to their clientele, offering a straightforward means to access their services. In cloud computing, APIs are pivotal in efficiently managing data for the cloud infrastructure and the applications it hosts. However, when these interfaces lack proper security measures, they become a substantial vulnerability, potentially exposing systems to malware attacks. Insecure APIs pose a significant threat by creating avenues of communication that malicious actors can exploit to compromise the systems integrity (Jackson-Barnes, 2022).

This vulnerability arises when a specific data repository, such as an S3 bucket or, less commonly, an SQL database, becomes partially or entirely accessible to the public. Alternatively, it can occur when data is stored with a third-party service provider whose storage security standards are suboptimal. While data privacy is safeguarded by compliance and governance standards, navigating the complexities of cloud compliance can be challenging, especially when dealing with multiple cloud service providers. Therefore, businesses must select a cloud service provider equipped with the necessary security tools to ensure the protection and security of their data.

Lack of visibility in cloud assets and associated telemetries leads to challenges in detecting and identifying probable risks across the cloud infrastructure of an organization. With the expanding adoption of cloud services, the scale of an organizations infrastructure grows proportionally. Managing thousands of instances of cloud services can lead to confusion or oversight of certain active instances. This complexity is exacerbated when multiple service providers and hybrid cloud models are employed. Therefore, having effortless and readily accessible visibility in an organizations Infrastructure is essential to mitigate this risk effectively.

Unauthorized access transpires when an individual gains entry to a portion of your organizations cloud assets. As highlighted in the section about cloud misconfigurations, this can stem from overly permissive access rules or former employees retention of valid credentials. Malicious insiders can also infiltrate your cloud resources by exploiting account hijacking following a successful phishing attack or exploiting weak credential security. This vulnerability is especially dangerous, as it places data and intellectual property at risk of theft or tampering (Alvarenga, 2022).

Ethical hacking is a sanctioned and lawful procedure involving deliberate circumvention of an IT or network infrastructures security measures. Its purpose is to identify vulnerabilities and potential points of weakness that could lead to a security breach. The primary objective of ethical hacking is to enhance an organizations overall safety by pinpointing vulnerabilities within its network and identifying potential openings that could be exploited by cyber attacks, ultimately preventing data loss and security breaches. Ethical hacking professionals adopt the mindset and tactics of potential attackers to uncover all vulnerabilities within the organizations systems.

Before delving deeper, it is crucial to delve into service level agreements (SLAs) and shared responsibility models, as these significantly shape the landscape of cloud penetration testing. Ethical hacking in a cloud environment is intricately tied to these SLAs and shared security responsibilities.

Within the shared responsibility model framework, the cloud service provider allows for examining cloud security to the extent that the client is authorized. To illustrate, assessing vulnerabilities related to virtualization, network, and Infrastructure is typically outside the purview of the clients responsibilities. This results in ethical hacking capabilities being constrained to access data and applications, except for the infrastructure as a service (IaaS) model, wherein the operating systems security falls under the clients jurisdiction.

Here are various hacking and penetration testing methodologies tailored for the cloud environment (Varghese, 2023), ensuring a comprehensive and authentic assessment of critical aspects within the cloud platform and applications:

By leveraging these methodologies, ethical hackers can ensure their penetration tests are thorough, reflective of real-world scenarios, and equipped to uncover vulnerabilities across the cloud infrastructure and applications.

Fundamentally, the ethical hacking approach revolves around three key steps: identifying vulnerabilities, exploiting weaknesses, and proposing improvement solutions (Guide et al., 2021). In cloud environments, the testing scope encompasses the cloud perimeter, internal cloud systems, and the management, administration, and development infrastructure for on-premises cloud solutions.

Here are some best practices in ethical hacking that can help ensure the highest level of security for your organization:

By adhering to these ethical hacking best practices, organizations can enhance their security posture and be better prepared to defend against potential threats in the dynamic landscape of cloud computing.

ConclusionCloud computings reach is undeniable, attracting IT professionals, enterprises across industries, and cyber security experts. However, with great convenience comes great responsibility, and the increasing reliance on cloud services exposes organizations to heightened cyber threats. Ethical hacking emerges as a proactive and essential approach to safeguarding cloud environments. By thinking and acting like potential adversaries, ethical hackers identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them, strengthening the defenses of cloud systems.

References

Alvarenga, G. (2022, June 28). Top 6 Cloud Vulnerabilities. Crowdstrike. https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/cloud-security/cloud-vulnerabilities/

Guide Point Security. (2021, March 11). Cloud Penetration Testing. Retrieved from: https://www.guidepointsecurity.com/education-center/cloud-penetration-testing/

Jackson-Barnes, S. (2022, November 11). Cloud Computing: Common Vulnerabilities and How to Overcome Them. Orientsoftware. https://www.orientsoftware.com/blog/vulnerability-in-cloud-computing/

James, N. (2023, July 07). Cloud Vulnerability Management: The Detailed Guide. Getastra. https://www.getastra.com/blog/security-audit/cloud-vulnerability-management/

Jayanti. (2022, October 23). Everything you Need to Know about Cloud Hacking and its Methodologies. Analytics Insight. https://www.analyticsinsight.net/everything-you-need-to-know-about-cloud-hacking-and-its-methodologies/

Varghese, J. (2023, August 22). Cloud Penetration Testing: A Complete Guide. Getastra. https://www.getastra.com/blog/security-audit/cloud-penetration-testing/

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Unveiling the Significance of Ethical Hacking in Cloud Computing - EC-Council

In a paradigm shift for the automotive industry, dedicated automotive cloud platforms are taking centre stage, ushering in a phase of differentiated competition. As automakers increasingly migrate to cloud platforms, a foundation for digital transformation is laid, marking a pivotal moment in automotive technology. This analysis, based on the 'Automotive Cloud Service Platform Industry Report, 2023' from ResearchAndMarkets, delves into the evolving landscape, spotlighting key trends, innovations, and competitive strategies.

Cloud Capabilities Reshaping Automotive Ecosystem

The report highlights the escalating demand for cloud services, with China carving out a distinctive path in cloud service development. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are driving changes in cloud service demand, with a particular focus on cloud applications and business models. The automotive cloud landscape is witnessing a transformative shift in computing architecture, especially in Electric/Electronic (E/E) architecture for vehicle cloud computing.

Data Lake & Cloud Native

Exploring the synergy between Data Lake and Cloud Native technologies, cloud platform companies are creating novel storage and computing systems. Notably, Data Lake Cloud Native architecture gains prominence, exemplified by real-world applications in autonomous driving data lakes from industry giants like AWS and Alibaba Cloud. This trend underscores the industry's commitment to leveraging cloud-native solutions for enhanced functionality and security.

From Single Cloud Adoption To Multi-Cloud Strategies

The industry is experiencing a transition from single cloud adoption to a multi-cloud approach, emphasising versatility and resilience. Distributed edge cloud applications are expanding, magnifying the role of telematics cloud control platforms and integrating cloud intelligence into automotive systems. In this dynamic landscape, cloud-native security undergoes evolution, ensuring robust protection for the connected vehicles' ecosystem.

Exponential Vehicle Data Fuelling Cloud Migration

The report underlines the inevitability of cloud migration, driven by the exponentially increasing volume of vehicle data. Companies aim to digitise the entire vehicle life cycle, from R&D and production to sale, operation, and after-sales service. Cloud migration becomes imperative as vehicle intelligence and connectivity surge, especially with the evolution of autonomous driving functions.

Market Insights & Competition Dynamics

In 2022, China's automotive cloud service market surpassed RMB 15 billion and is anticipated to sustain a growth rate of 30-40% over the next five years. The industry witnesses a fierce competition with major players like Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei, and Douyin entering the market, each launching dedicated automotive cloud platforms. Differentiated competitive edges are crucial, focusing on basic resource layer services and upper-layer R&D tool chains.

Advancements In Basic Resource Layer Services

The report highlights the significance of supercomputing centres as a vital indicator of service capabilities. Alibaba and Baidu lead the deployment of supercomputing centres, enhancing their intelligent computing solutions. The emphasis on constructing intelligent computing centres underscores the industry's commitment to advanced computing infrastructure.

Innovations In R&D Tool Chains

Cloud service providers are committed to creating fully furnished service experiences for users, offering full-process and fully closed-loop services. Examples include Tencent's autonomous driving cloud platform, Huawei's autonomous driving cloud platform 'Octopus,' and Baidu's full-stack layout. These innovations aim to provide comprehensive solutions for AI software and hardware ecosystems.

Shift To Multi-Cloud Strategies

As OEMs transition to the cloud, the report identifies a shift in underlying cloud strategy logic from resource pursuit to efficiency. OEMs are adopting a multi-cloud strategy, placing different business types on different cloud platforms to integrate advantages, deploy business more precisely, and reduce costs. Challenges, however, include storage/computing power allocation, cross-cloud data synchronization, and the impact of costs and network delays, the report added.

Courtesy: ResearchAndMarkets. Photo is representational; courtesy: Continental.

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