Decentralized cloud computing
Decentralized cloud computing[1] is decentralized cloud computing resources that are made up of hosts, where no entity or host has a central control of the computer network. The hosts form a peer-to-peer network, which can make data availability robust.[2][3][4][5]
Data integrity can, for example, be secured via digital signatures (e.g. hash functions or blockchains). Data confidentiality can be ensured, for example, by encrypting data before it is sent into the decentralized cloud.
The hosts have their own cloud functionality for remote access, sharing, streaming, collaboration and file management. They can process data locally, communicate with one another directly and share resources freely.
History
The concept of decentralized computing has been around for decades, but it has gained renewed interest in recent years due to the widespread adoption of blockchain technology and the increasing concerns about data privacy and security.
One of the earliest decentralized computing systems was the SETI@home project, which was launched in 1999. SETI@home allowed volunteers to donate their unused computing resources to search for extraterrestrial intelligence.[6] This was one of the first examples of distributed computing, where the computing power of multiple devices was combined to perform a common task.
In the years that followed, other decentralized computing platforms were developed, including Folding@home and BOINC. These platforms allowed volunteers to contribute their computing resources to scientific research projects.
With the advent of blockchain technology, decentralized computing has taken on a new dimension. Blockchain allows for the creation of decentralized networks that can securely and transparently record transactions and store data. This has led to the development of decentralized cloud computing platforms that use blockchain to enable the sharing and storage of data and computing resources in a decentralized manner.
Characteristics
- Increased security is one of the main characteristics of decentralized cloud computing. By distributing data and computing resources across a network of devices, there is no single point of failure that can be targeted by hackers. This makes it much more difficult for malicious actors to access sensitive information or disrupt the system.[2]
- Cost may be significantly reduced for businesses and individuals. Traditional centralized cloud computing models require the construction and maintenance of costly data centers, which can be a significant expense for companies. In a decentralized model, the costs are distributed across the network of devices, which can lead to lower costs for users.
- Flexibility in decentralized cloud computing may be greatly improved. With a centralized model, users are limited to the resources and capabilities of a single data center. In a decentralized model, users can tap into the resources and capabilities of multiple devices, which can provide greater flexibility and scalability.
Technologies and Platforms
There are several technologies and platforms that are being developed to enable decentralized cloud computing, including blockchain, peer-to-peer networking, and edge computing. These technologies allow for the creation of distributed networks of devices that can share computing resources and data storage in a decentralized manner.[7]
One example of a decentralized cloud computing platform is the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), which is a peer-to-peer protocol for sharing and storing files. IPFS allows users to store and access files on a decentralized network of devices rather than relying on a centralized server.[1]
Blockchain
Blockchain technology plays a particularly important role in decentralized cloud computing. Blockchain technology offers a reliable way to create a distributed platform that is resistant to tampering and operates in a decentralized manner. Its adaptability makes it suitable for use in cloud and edge computing, enabling the creation of decentralized cloud and edge computing systems.[8]
The consensus and reward mechanisms found in blockchain architectures can help address some of the challenges faced by distributed computing. For example, using a platform's own tokens to compensate node hosts can incentivize participation and prevent misbehavior. However, implementing decentralized cloud solutions based on blockchain technology also introduces a number of challenges, as outlined in a study by Riarte and De Nicola.[9]
Some of the challenges that must be addressed in order to effectively implement decentralized cloud solutions based on blockchain technology include:
- Ensuring that resource providers are fairly compensated for their contributions.
- Making the infrastructure scalable despite the current limitations of blockchain technology.
- Verifying that computations are being performed correctly to prevent malicious attacks. Some projects use reputational management techniques, but these must be balanced with the cost of market entry.
- Trusting oracles, which are not inherently decentralized. There are decentralized proposals for oracles that may address this issue.
- Managing the right to erase data in the event of a malicious attack or other problems.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wu, Daniel D. (2021). "Decentralized Cloud Computing - ISACA Journal". ISACA. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2023-06-12.CS1 maint: Unfit url (link),
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Faiza Khalid. "What is Decentralized Cloud Computing?". devteam.space. Archived from the original on 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-06-12.CS1 maint: Unfit url (link),
- ↑ odr.chalmers.se: Decentralized Cloud Computing Platforms. Building a Global Marketplace for Computing Power. Bachelor of Science Thesis in Computer Science. Department of Computer Science and Engineering. CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY. Gothenburg, Sweden 2015. JOHAN ANGSÉUS, ADRIAN BJUGÅRD, WILHELM HEDMAN, JOHAN LINDSKOGEN, OSKAR NYBERG, JOEL TORSTENSSON Quote: "...Discussion...The result of the study is a protocol for a decentralized cloud computing platform where a free market is used to distribute work throughout the network. The protocol itself has no single point of failure, or any external authority which might revoke access to i...", backup
- ↑ vukolic.com: On the Future of Decentralized Computing. Marko Vukolic Quote: "...5. Towards Decentralized Cloud Computing...In order for decentralized cloud computing and the decentralized internet (so-called Web3) to become pervasive and supersede current Web2 internet and centralized cloud computing, it is reasonable to require Web3 to run Web2 workloads, with billions of transactions per second, low latencies, high security, etc. All this should be ideally done with higher privacy, censorship resilience (freedom of information) and availability, to provide benefits for humanity over Web2...", backup, presented at eatcs.org: European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS), smtp.eatcs.org: On the Future of Decentralized Computing. Marko Vukolic, The Distributed Computing Column by Seth Gilber
- ↑ 25 July 2022, ieeexplore.ieee.org: Decentralized AI: Edge Intelligence and Smart Blockchain, Metaverse, Web3, and DeSci. Longbing Cao , University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia Quote: "...Other important enablers and supporting techniques include decentralized cloud computing, edge computing, smart contracting, P2P systems, autonomous agents, distributed and cloud-based analytics......", backup, main page
- ↑ Ron Hipschman. "How SETI@home works". Space Sciences Laboratory.
- ↑ Iman van der Maas. "What is DeCloud (Decentralized Cloud)?". Medium.
- ↑ Pei, Qingqi. "Blockchain-enabled Decentralized Cloud/Edge Computing - Journal of Cloud Computing". Journal of Cloud Computing.
- ↑ Brundo Uriarte, Rafael; De Nicola, Rocco. "Blockchain-Based Decentralised Cloud/Fog Solutions: Challenges, Opportunities and Standards". IEEE Communications Standards Magazine.
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