Secure Resource Management in Cloud Computing: Challenges, Strategies and Meta-Analysis

Secure resource management (SRM) within a cloud computing environment is a critical yet infrequently studied research topic. This article provides a comprehensive survey and comparative performance evaluation of potential cyber threat countermeasure strategies that address security challenges during cloud workload execution and resource management. Cybersecurity is explored specifically in the context of cloud resource management, with an emphasis on identifying the associated challenges. The cyber threat countermeasure methods are categorized into three classes: defensive strategies, mitigating strategies, and hybrid strategies. The existing countermeasure strategies belonging to each class are thoroughly discussed and compared. In addition to conceptual and theoretical analysis, the leading countermeasure strategies within these categories are implemented on a common platform and examined using two real-world virtual machine (VM) data traces. Based on this comprehensive study and performance evaluation, this article discusses the tradeoffs among these countermeasure strategies and their utility, providing imperative concluding remarks on the holistic study of cloud cyber threat countermeasures and SRM. Furthermore, the study suggests future methodologies that could effectively address the emerging challenges of secure cloud resource management.