SEV-SNP is a new security feature that is available on AMD’s EPYC processors. It stands for Secure Encrypted Virtualization Secure Nested Pages. SEV-SNP provides a new level of protection for firmware by encrypting the memory pages that contain the firmware code. This makes it much more difficult for attackers to gain access to the firmware and launch attacks.
The benefit of SEV-SNP
With SEV-SNP embedded firmware in your VMs, you will enjoy improved security, increased isolation, enhanced performance for your VMs.
- Improved security. SEV-SNP encrypts the memory pages that contain firmware code. This makes it much more difficult for attackers to gain access to the firmware and launch attacks.
- Increased isolation. SEV-SNP allows each VM to have its own secure memory space. This means that a VM cannot access the memory of another VM, even if the hypervisor is compromised.
- Enhanced performance. SEV-SNP can be used to improve the performance of virtualized applications. This is because SEV-SNP allows the hypervisor to offload some of the security processing to the processor.
The relationship between SEV-SNP and Confidential Computing
Confidential Computing is the protection of data in-use with hardware-based Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). TEEs are secure and isolated environments that prevent unauthorized access or modification of applications and data while they are in use. This security standard is defined by the Confidential Computing Consortium. The end-to-end encryption is comprised of three states.
- Encryption-at-rest protects your data while it is being stored.
- Encryption-in-transit protects your data when it is moving between two points.
- Encryption-in-use protects your data while it is being processed.
Confidential Computing provides the last piece of end-to-end encryption: encryption-in-use.
SEV-SNP provides an extra layer of safeguard against malicious hypervisor-based attacks, such as data reply and memory re-mapping. These protections establish a secure and isolated execution environment, bolstering overall security.
Furthermore, SEV-SNP introduces several optional security enhancements tailored to support various VM use models. It also strengthens protection around interrupt behavior and bolsters defenses against recently discovered side channel attacks.
How to start a SEV-SNP VM on Google Cloud
In Google Cloud Console, choose Compute Engine and Create an Instance. Make sure you select N2D machine (AMD EPYC)
Under Boot disk, select a SEV-SNP compatible Operating System, such as Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Pro Server (x86/64, amd64 jammy pro server).
Make sure enable Confidential VM service
Click CREATE. Enjoy your SEV-SNP VM!