Topics on Trusted Computing with Skyport Systems

Abstract: How would you build a system that you could drop anywhere, that can discover its own way out to the Internet, and automatically come under full secure remote management -- all without on-site networking or systems expertise? What if this platform must also deliver a fully trusted platform, with integrated network security controls, designed to run anywhere — even in untrusted environments? We will cover the story behind the SkySecure System, developed by Skyport Systems to deliver secure enclave environments in hostile or exposed locations. We will discuss how Skyport built a remotely-managed, Trusted Computing environment with full TXT support -- including remote attestation -- and how this can be used to effectively deploy and manage this remote trusted computing platforms. We will also discuss the architectural principles of “zero trust” that have informed the system architecture from the ground-up — including hardware, software, and services.

Speaker Bio's:

Ryan Carretta works as an engineer at Skyport Systems, a Bay-Area security startup changing the way enterprise applications are hardened. Before joining Skyport, Ryan previously spent time across multiple groups in Cisco. As a Tier-3 support engineer, Ryan helped customers solve critical and business-impacting technical problems, identifying potential systemic product issues along the way. In another capacity, Ryan worked with select Cisco customers as part of a team identifying and exploring customer use-cases and doing early customer-driven product field trials. Ryan earned a CCIE certification in 2008, back when frame-relay was still actively being tested. Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Rensselaer, where he specialized in graph theory, computer networking, and dabbled in x86 assembly hacking. In what little spare time he has, Ryan enjoys learning about orbital mechanics and crashing rockets in Kerbal Space Program.

Dan Backman currently works in Technical Marketing at Skyport systems, where he works with customers and partners to deliver scalable and effective Secure Enclave environments. Originally a Unix admin from the late 1990s, Dan took a 18-year detour through the world of networking, working at multiple network and security vendors in the Bay Area, including over eight years at Juniper Networks. Dan holds JNCIE-ENT (#6) and JNCIE-SP certifications from Juniper, and has worked in large-scale enterprise routing and MPLS deployments as well as various SDN technologies. When caught outside of work, Dan can usually be found enjoying outdoor sports, such as running and biking and sailing.

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