Microsoft and IBM work to improve security of cloud computing

MIT Technology Review : Cloud services use computer servers run by third-party companies to store computer files and perform various functions. However, because the servers are connected to the internet, they are constant targets for hacking and, therefore, a major security concern. To ensure that a cloud service does only what it was designed to do, Microsoft and IBM have developed a project called Pinocchio, which uses a verification system to guarantee only proper and unaltered access. It can also be used for systems that collect fine-grained personal data such as detailed water or electricity usage statistics. Pinocchio is a major improvement over earlier systems that often took longer to check a result than to simply repeat the action being checked. However, verifying a system’s security still takes too long to be useful in real-world situations.