Secure Cloud Storage: A Framework for Data Protection as a Service in the Multi-cloud Environment

This paper introduces Secure Cloud Storage (SCS), a framework for Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS) to cloud computing users. Compared to the existing Data Encryption as a Service (DEaaS) such as those provided by Amazon and Google, DPaaS provides more flexibility to protect data in the cloud. In addition to supporting the basic data encryption capability as DEaaS does, DPaaS allows users to define fine-grained access control policies to protect their data. Once data is put under an access control policy, it is automatically encrypted and only if the policy is satisfied, the data could be decrypted and accessed by either the data owner or anyone else specified in the policy. The key idea of the SCS framework is to separate data management from security management in addition to defining a full cycle of data security automation from encryption to decryption. As a proof-of-concept for the design, we implemented a prototype of the SCS framework that works with both BT Cloud Compute platform and Amazon EC2. Experiments on the prototype have proved the efficiency of the SCS framework

An integrated active network approach to the provision of intrusion detection, network access policy and firewall functionality

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Seamless Enablement of Intelligent Protection for Enterprise Cloud Applications through Service Store

Cloud IaaS and PaaS providers typically hold Cloud consumers accountable for protecting their applications, while Cloud users often find that protecting their proprietary system, application and data stacks on public or hybrid Cloud environments to be complex, expensive and time-consuming. In this paper we demonstrate, how integration of a security solution such as BT Intelligent Protection with the Service Store, results with security operations capability that can scale accordingly to the Cloud use. By enabling "click-to-buy" security services and "click-to-build" secure applications with a few mouse clicks, this integration creates a new paradigm for self-service Cloud-based integrity and security service

Integrating Security Services in Cloud Service Stores

Protecting systems, applications and data hosted on a Cloud environment against cyber-threats, and accounting for security incidents across the Cloud estate are prerequisites to Cloud adoption by business, and a fundamental element of both national and corporate cyber-security and Cloud strategies. Yet, Cloud IaaS and PaaS providers typically hold Cloud consumers accountable for protecting their applications, while Cloud users often find that protecting their proprietary system, application and data stacks on public or hybrid Cloud environments can be complex, expensive and time-consuming. In this paper we describe a novel Cloud-based security management solution that empowers Cloud consumers to protect their systems, applications and data in the Cloud, whilst also improving the control and visibility of their Cloud security operations. This is achieved by enhancing the security policy management of commercial technologies, and via their integration with multiple Cloud-based hosts and applications. The result of this integration is then offered as a re-usable service across multiple Cloud platforms through a Cloud service store

Deploying Visual Analytics Through a Multi-cloud Service Store with Encrypted Big Data (Short Paper)

The benefits of Cloud Computing are now widely recognised, in terms of easy, flexible, scalable and cost effective deployment of services and storage. At the same time, the growth in Big Data solutions is offering a plethora of new service opportunities. However, significant barriers of trust and privacy concerns are slowing the adoption of Big Data cloud services. In this paper we describe how a Visual Analytics system can be flexibly deployed via a multi-cloud application store. The supporting infrastructure (IaaS) is protected via innovative security protection capabilities, while associated Big Data resources can be protected via encryption and access control. The novel Visual Analytics capability makes analysis of Big Data in the cloud easier and faster, thereby empowering data analysts with attractive new tools, while the security features help to tackle issues of privacy and trust for big data cloud deployment

Low incidence of SARS-CoV-2, risk factors of mortality and the course of illness in the French national cohort of dialysis patients

International audienceThe aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 disease in the French national population of dialysis patients, their course of illness and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality. Our study included all patients on dialysis recorded in the French REIN Registry in April 2020. Clinical characteristics at last follow-up and the evolution of COVID-19 illness severity over time were recorded for diagnosed cases (either suspicious clinical symptoms, characteristic signs on the chest scan or a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 1,621 infected patients were reported on the REIN registry from March 16th, 2020 to May 4th, 2020. Of these, 344 died. The prevalence of COVID-19 patients varied from less than 1% to 10% between regions. The probability of being a case was higher in males, patients with diabetes, those in need of assistance for transfer or treated at a self-care unit. Dialysis at home was associated with a lower probability of being infected as was being a smoker, a former smoker, having an active malignancy, or peripheral vascular disease. Mortality in diagnosed cases (21%) was associated with the same causes as in the general population. Higher age, hypoalbuminemia and the presence of an ischemic heart disease were statistically independently associated with a higher risk of death. Being treated at a selfcare unit was associated with a lower risk. Thus, our study showed a relatively low frequency of COVID-19 among dialysis patients contrary to what might have been assumed

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p < 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures

Impact of COVID-19 on Diagnostic Cardiac Procedural Volume in Oceania: The IAEA Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Objectives: The INCAPS COVID Oceania study aimed to assess the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac procedure volume provided in the Oceania region. Methods: A retrospective survey was performed comparing procedure volumes within March 2019 (pre-COVID-19) with April 2020 (during first wave of COVID-19 pandemic). Sixty-three (63) health care facilities within Oceania that perform cardiac diagnostic procedures were surveyed, including a mixture of metropolitan and regional, hospital and outpatient, public and private sites, and 846 facilities outside of Oceania. The percentage change in procedure volume was measured between March 2019 and April 2020, compared by test type and by facility. Results: In Oceania, the total cardiac diagnostic procedure volume was reduced by 52.2% from March 2019 to April 2020, compared to a reduction of 75.9% seen in the rest of the world (p<0.001). Within Oceania sites, this reduction varied significantly between procedure types, but not between types of health care facility. All procedure types (other than stress cardiac magnetic resonance [CMR] and positron emission tomography [PET]) saw significant reductions in volume over this time period (p<0.001). In Oceania, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) decreased by 51.6%, transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) by 74.0%, and stress tests by 65% overall, which was more pronounced for stress electrocardiograph (ECG) (81.8%) and stress echocardiography (76.7%) compared to stress single-photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) (44.3%). Invasive coronary angiography decreased by 36.7% in Oceania. Conclusion: A significant reduction in cardiac diagnostic procedure volume was seen across all facility types in Oceania and was likely a function of recommendations from cardiac societies and directives from government to minimise spread of COVID-19 amongst patients and staff. Longer term evaluation is important to assess for negative patient outcomes which may relate to deferral of usual models of care within cardiology