The UMBC Cybersecurity Institute (UCI) 

and Department of Computer Science & Electrical Engineering (CSEE) Present

The Cloud Continuum: Decentralization, Security and Privacy

Dr. Rolando Martins, Assistant Professor of Computer Science

University of Porto (FCUP) - Portugal

 

In the context of digital transformation, dataspaces have emerged as vital infrastructure for secure data sharing and management across organizations and borders. However, the concentration of centralized cloud providers raises concerns regarding data sovereignty, privacy, and security. This talk outlines a decentralized approach to cloud infrastructure that can better support secure and privacy-focused dataspaces. A decentralized cloud model enhances resilience and accessibility by moving from a centralized structure to a distributed network of resources encompassing a broader range of providers, from individuals to large enterprises. This framework is well-suited to latency-sensitive applications, such as artificial intelligence, while also reducing dependence on a few major providers. This model addresses key issues related to economic and digital sovereignty, by fostering a more diverse and competitive digital market and empowering smaller providers.

However, this decentralization requires new mechanisms for ensuring security and privacy by establishing a trust model that does not rely exclusively on provider reputation. Technologies such as Confidential Computing and distributed trust frameworks offer the necessary infrastructure to securely handle sensitive data, maintaining privacy across decentralized networks. Additionally, this approach aligns with sustainability objectives by optimizing resource utilization, reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional data centers, and supporting eco-friendly practices that are beneficial both economically and environmentally.

 

Rolando Martins is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), where he currently focuses on secure distributed systems and privacy-supporting infrastructures. He is a former member of the Intel Science and Technology Center (ISTC), where he was involved in both the Cloud Computing and Embedded Computing centers, as well as the Parallel Data Lab (PDL) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Simultaneously, he worked as a computer research scientist at YinZcam, a CMU spin-off that provides mobile applications for the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLS, contributing to cloud computing, big data, content management systems, security, and video streaming.

Recently, he was honored during FCUP’s 113th anniversary celebration for his outstanding contributions to the institution’s prestige, particularly as Principal Investigator of high-impact projects like Theia, a €28M collaboration with Bosch.

Currently, he leads Atlas: Trusted Autonomous Navigation, a P2030 RCI co-promotion project with Bosch, with a budget of €26M, aimed at enhancing autonomous vehicle security, which is under evaluation. He has also contributed to projects such as H2020 CyberSec4Eur, CMU-Portugal Angerona, Hyrax, and NanoStima. He serves as a member of FCUP's scientific council, vice-chair of the IEEE CS Portugal Chapter, vice-director of the MSc in Information Security, and director of C3P (UP Cybersecurity and Privacy Centre).

 

Host: Dr. Ben B. Shariati <shariati@umbc.edu>