Tag Archive for: computing
Imperva introduces Serverless Protection to secure serverless computing functions
Imperva launches Imperva Serverless Protection, a new product built to secure organizations from vulnerabilities created by misconfigured apps and code-level security risks in serverless computing environments. Designed with the developer and security team in mind, the new product is easily deployed as an AWS Lambda layer, protecting functions without changing code.
Built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), Imperva Serverless Protection is a fully integrated tool within AWS Lambda Extensions. The integration gives developers faster access to the new Imperva offering to provide an additional layer of security for their AWS Lambda environment. This latest innovation from Imperva adds to the company’s solutions for protecting applications in all their forms: legacy, APIs, microservices, and serverless functions.
“We see hundreds of thousands of customers of all sizes embrace serverless applications to quickly deliver value to their customers,” says Holly Mesrobian, General Manager, AWS Lambda, AWS. “The Imperva extension enables customers to easily embed additional security in their DevOps processes for serverless applications with just a simple configuration change.”
Developers are increasing adoption of serverless functions that offer lower costs, less configuration and faster deployment. However, “through 2022, 80% of successful attacks on serverless [platform as a service] PaaS will have a root cause of misconfiguration or the use of known vulnerable code due to immature tools and processes,” writes Neil MacDonald, Vice President, Distinguished Analyst, Gartner, in the March 2020 report, “Security Considerations and Best Practices for Securing Serverless PaaS”.
He adds, “New approaches and techniques for securing serverless will be required and should be designed using a life cycle approach, starting in development and carrying through into operations.”
Imperva Serverless Protection offers market-differentiated capabilities to help organizations manage the complex security risks that emerge in serverless functions.
- Protection against malicious activity: Purpose-built for serverless computing, Imperva uniquely enables a positive security model that…
Government of Canada contribution strengthens Canada’s position as a global leader in quantum computing
Investment promotes commercialization of quantum computing technology
BURNABY, BC, March 11, 2021 /CNW/ – Quantum computing is a transformative technology in which Canadian researchers, businesses and workers have developed a leading global advantage. This technology will have a significant impact on the daily lives of Canadians and will be a driver of economic growth and good jobs. This is why the Government of Canada has identified it as a strategic opportunity for the country and is increasing its support to the sector.
Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced a $40-million contribution to D-Wave Systems Inc. of Burnaby, British Columbia, one of Canada’s most innovative and intellectual property–rich firms. This contribution will support a $120-million project to develop quantum computer hardware and software systems, ensuring that Canada remains at the forefront of quantum technology development.
The project will help D-Wave further the advantage of quantum technology over classical computers by enhancing the processing capabilities and computing power of its current systems. To reach this objective, the company will develop a new and more powerful quantum processor and provide additional advancements for its quantum computers.
With this project, D-Wave will be well positioned to bring its next-generation quantum system to market, which could improve productivity, innovation and analytical capabilities across Canada’s economy. This investment will also enable D-Wave to provide greater access to its cloud-based service, which is particularly helpful to small and medium-sized Canadian companies that would benefit from access to the power of quantum computing. This effort will strengthen the Canadian innovation ecosystem and accelerate the commercialization of quantum computing services.
Through this project, D-Wave commits to creating and maintaining up to 200 jobs, employing up to 10 co-op students annually, and spending more than $480 million on R&D. D-Wave will also provide quantum computing access to qualified members of the quantum computing ecosystem in Canada to encourage its development….
Inside the race to keep secrets safe from the quantum computing revolution
“We have done some work with the NCSC but they just do not have the budget to fund this kind of development,” he says.
His fear is that the UK could experience a brain drain of cryptography talent to other countries like Canada and France that have allocated more government funding to the field.
In January, the French government announced €150m (£130m) in funding for quantum safe encryption as part of a larger €1.8bn grant for quantum computing.
Insiders with links to the security services say that the Government is carrying out its own secret work on quantum safe encryption instead of relying on start-ups.
Dr Ian Levy, the technical director of the NCSC, says the organisation “continues to work closely with industry, academia and international partners” on the subject. “The NCSC is committed to ensuring the UK is well-prepared for quantum-safe cryptography,” he adds.
The threat of quantum computing breaking encryption could be solved within months, however. Many organisations, including PQ Shield and Post-Quantum have been taking part in a global competition run by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The contest, announced in 2016, is nearing completion. Early next year, NIST will announce the new standard for quantum safe encryption, essentially replacing RSA. “It will change the world not for the next decade, but for the next 40 or 50 years,” Cheng says.
If everything goes smoothly, in several years the encryption keeping secrets safe will be quietly swapped out so that quantum computers cannot easily crack messages.
“I think the answer to the threat should be transparent for users. They should have basically the same experience they have today. They shouldn’t have to install some new bit of kit,” says Alan Woodward, a computer security expert and visiting professor at the University of Surrey.
But while NIST’s competition is nearing its end, there’s a rival scheme that has already been launched around the world.
Telecom businesses such as BT have spent millions of pounds creating specialist networks that use a system called quantum key distribution. It uses a stream of single photos to transfer the secret encryption keys…