ccFOSSIL launches: Secure shared memory for data centers

The Barkhausen Institut has launched a new research project that explores how data centers can share memory safely and efficiently. The project, called ccFOSSIL, focuses on new ways for computers to use shared memory without compromising security.

Modern data centers try to use their hardware as efficiently as possible. One idea is to let multiple machines access a shared memory pool instead of relying only on their own local memory. This approach can save resources and improve flexibility. However, it also creates new challenges: systems must remain fast, and sensitive data must stay protected even when memory is shared.

In ccFOSSIL, researchers at the Barkhausen Institut are developing mechanisms that ensure machines can only access the data they are allowed to use. The project combines hardware and operating system research and uses the institute’s M³ platform to build and test new concepts. The long-term goal is to enable shared memory at data-center scale without weakening security or trust.

The project runs from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028.

It is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – 502457159.

Learn more about project ccFOSSIL here.