Security Validation in OpenStack: A Comprehensive Evaluation

Mohammed Saffran ^*1, Shailendra Mishra ²

¹  Department of IT,CCIS,  Majmaa University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

² Department of Computer Engineering ,CCIS, Majmaa University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Emails: Mohammedsaffran@gmail.com; s.mishra@mu.edu.sa

Abstract

The study delves into the security architecture of OpenStack, an open-source cloud platform that is increasingly prevalent in modern computing environments. Its primary goal is to rigorously assess and confirm hypotheses about OpenStack's security infrastructure while identifying vulnerabilities and potential threats using a comprehensive security evaluation framework. The study utilizes a multifaceted security assessment methodology to analyze both private and public cloud deployments of OpenStack. This methodology involves various techniques, including vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and analysis of security policies and configurations. Benchmarking against industry standards and previous studies further strengthens the analytical framework, ensuring a thorough exploration of various dimensions of OpenStack security. The assessment revealed that OpenStack has a robust security posture, with vulnerabilities detected in only 2% of cases across both private and public cloud deployments. The study also found a resilience rate of 95% against common security challenges. The comprehensive analysis covered various dimensions of OpenStack security, providing valuable insights into the platform's security resilience and vulnerabilities, thereby significantly contributing to the body of knowledge in cloud security research. The research underscores the importance of implementing robust security protocols in OpenStack environments to ensure the reliability of cloud infrastructure. Regular security updates and adherence to best practices can strengthen the security posture of OpenStack deployments. The insights from this study can inform the development of guidelines and policies aimed at enhancing security practices in cloud computing environments. Overall, the study evaluates the security framework of OpenStack and emphasizes the significance of implementing robust security measures to ensure the dependability of cloud infrastructure, guiding the creation of recommendations and superior practices for strengthening security in cloud computing environments.

Keywords: OpenStack security analysis; Cloud platform vulnerabilities; Comprehensive security assessment; Resilience against cyber threats; Robust security measures; Cloud deployment integrity.