Secure Attestation and Dynamic Load Balancing (SALB) for Optimized Container Management: Ensuring Integrity and Enhancing Resource Efficiency

Abstract

Container technology has revolutionized the deployment and management of applications by providing isolated, lightweight environments that simplify scaling and enhance flexibility. In this context, the secure attestation-based load balancing (SALB) algorithm is proposed to further enhance containerized environments by integrating secure deployment practices with dynamic load balancing. This algorithm addresses two pivotal aspects of modern computing systems: security and resource management. It employs remote attestation to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of both container images and host environments, thereby safeguarding against potential threats from compromised or malicious components. Concurrently, it manages and allocates resources across containers based on real-time workload assessments, optimizing performance, and resource utilization. The algorithm follows a structured approach: initializing containers, generating application packages, and defining operational thresholds for CPU and memory. It then performs remote attestation to verify host and container image integrity before deploying the containers. Resource allocation and task assignment are dynamically adjusted based on container usage, with provisions for handling overloaded or failed containers through reassignment and the creation of new containers. The implementation of the SALB algorithm results in a more secure and efficient container management system. It balances workloads effectively while maintaining high levels of security through rigorous attestation processes. The dynamic resource allocation and fault-tolerance features enhance system performance and reliability, demonstrating the algorithm's capability to optimize containerized environments and ensure robust, reliable operations.