Confidential computing for serverless workloads: Secure and scalable data processing in untrusted environments

Confidential Computing for Serverless Workloads: Secure and Scalable Data Processing in Untrusted Environments

As the adoption of serverless architectures grows, the need to address data privacy and security concerns in cloud-based environments becomes critical. Serverless workloads, by design, allow developers to focus on code without managing infrastructure, leading to operational efficiency and scalability. However, this model introduces challenges related to the trustworthiness of the cloud provider, where sensitive data may be exposed to malicious actors within the system. Confidential computing, a new paradigm that leverages hardware-based trusted execution environments (TEEs), offers a solution by enabling secure processing of sensitive data even in untrusted environments.

This paper explores the integration of confidential computing with serverless workloads to provide secure data processing while maintaining scalability and performance. By utilizing TEEs such as Intel SGX, confidential computing ensures that data remains encrypted during processing, mitigating risks of data leaks and attacks such as side-channel and privilege escalation. The paper investigates how serverless platforms can leverage confidential computing to safeguard both user data and application logic while enabling the flexibility and elasticity inherent in serverless architectures. We discuss the challenges of implementing confidential computing in serverless environments, including compatibility with existing frameworks, performance overhead, and regulatory concerns. The potential for improved data privacy and compliance in industries such as finance, healthcare, and government is also highlighted, showcasing how this technology can address the growing need for secure cloud computing solutions.