Survey of Resource Optimization and Security Techniques in Multi Cloud Computing Environments

Abstract

Multi-cloud computing has evolved into a sophisticated model that enables organizations to leverage services from multiple cloud providers to enhance scalability, flexibility, reliability, and continuity. While the technology offers many benefits, there are numerous challenges related to resource optimization and security in heterogeneous cloud infrastructure, given its dynamic nature, diverse service models, varied pricing schemes, and increasing cyberattacks. A comprehensive overview of the resource optimization and security approaches in multi-cloud computing. First, it provides a brief discussion of the basics of multi-cloud computing and its architecture and deployment models. Then, it analyzes some of the most popular resource optimization approaches, which include resource allocation, workload scheduling, load balancing, dynamic resource provisioning, auto-scaling, virtual machine and container optimization, cost-aware optimization, energy-aware resource management, AI-driven optimization, and metaheuristic approaches. Moreover, it provides an overview of the popular security techniques, namely identity and access management, encryption, Zero Trust Architecture, intrusion detection and prevention systems, secure data replication, network security, blockchain-based security, and continuous monitoring. The study of recent literature on the topic brings out the issues, both pros and cons, involved in the area of resource optimization and security. The survey finds that the need of the hour is to incorporate resource optimization along with security measures into next-generation multi-cloud computing environments.