Cloud and MEC Security 375
5G network design is inspired by the need for more user‐centric services across all
network paraphernalia. Both existing and evolving systems, such as LTE‐Advanced
and WiFi, will be harnessed together with other revolutionary technologies in order to
meet the anticipated performance demands of 5G. The Radio Access Technologies
(RATs) of 5G will consist of existing RATs, licensed and unlicensed, supported by
some novel RATs to support specific deployment scenarios and use cases, especially
for ultra‐dense deployments [3,4].
In all its ramifications, experts have shown that 5G mobile networks will be heavily
supported by cloud services [3–5], whether for self‐backhauling or for direct device‐
to‐device (D2D) connectivity. Already cloud‐based applications and storage are
becoming common in modern networks; this is evident in the recent growth of uplink
data in mobile networks. By integrating large‐scale cloud architectures, 5G mobile networks need to be able to deliver services flexibly at unprecedented speeds to match the
predicted growth in mobile data traffic that will be generated by mobile cloud services.
In addition, the radio access infrastructure of 5G will largely depend on cloud architecture technologies for on‐demand resource processing, storage and network capacity
provisioning [5].
16.2.1 Overview and History of Cloud Computing
The actual origin of the term “cloud” in the context of computing has remained unclear
in the literature; however, most technology historians agree that the idea of the cloud
came originally from basic virtualization of IT infrastructures [7–10]. Prior to adopting
the conventional term “cloud”, IT specialist had long practiced the art of replacing actual
IT infrastructures with their virtual equivalents. This was initially adopted as a cost‐
saving strategy, but soon it also became a feasible means of improving flexibility and
enhancing the speed of communication networks [6].
The initial idea of what we commonly refer to as “cloud computing” today can be
traced back in the 1950s, when firms and organizations began to adopt and optimize the
use of large‐scale mainframe computers by allowing multiple users simultaneous access
to both hardware resources and shared central processing units (CPUs). Companies like
IBM and DEC were known for such solutions at the time. Going through the 1960s to
the mid‐1990s, the idea of cloud computing had evolved through various significant
phases and milestones. This includes the ARPANET in the late 1960s and 1970s, the
CSNET in the early 1980s and the Telescript in the mid‐1990s. However, the most
remarkable evolution was seen in the late 1990s, when the Web 2.0 was introduced; for
the first time in computing history, enterprise applications were able to be delivered
over the internet [8]. Salesforce.com was a key player at this time, being one of the first
companies to experiment with the idea of delivering contents over the web. About the
same time, the Virtual Private Network (VPN) was born, allowing interconnection
between multiple private networks over a public shared network such as the Internet.
The modern version of cloud computing came in the early 2000s after the dot‐com
bubble burst, with Amazon taking the lead with the implementation of a fully web‐
based retail service in 2002. Another milestone to cloud computing was seen in 2006
when Google launched its Google Docs services, which brought cloud computing services directly to end users [10,11]. In late 2000s, the advent of low‐cost, high‐capacity
network and storage devices and infrastructures led to a wider adoption of the cloud
5G network design is inspired by the need for more user‐centric services across all
network paraphernalia. Both existing and evolving systems, such as LTE‐Advanced
and WiFi, will be harnessed together with other revolutionary technologies in order to
meet the anticipated performance demands of 5G. The Radio Access Technologies
(RATs) of 5G will consist of existing RATs, licensed and unlicensed, supported by
some novel RATs to support specific deployment scenarios and use cases, especially
for ultra‐dense deployments [3,4].
In all its ramifications, experts have shown that 5G mobile networks will be heavily
supported by cloud services [3–5], whether for self‐backhauling or for direct device‐
to‐device (D2D) connectivity. Already cloud‐based applications and storage are
becoming common in modern networks; this is evident in the recent growth of uplink
data in mobile networks. By integrating large‐scale cloud architectures, 5G mobile networks need to be able to deliver services flexibly at unprecedented speeds to match the
predicted growth in mobile data traffic that will be generated by mobile cloud services.
In addition, the radio access infrastructure of 5G will largely depend on cloud architecture technologies for on‐demand resource processing, storage and network capacity
provisioning [5].
16.2.1 Overview and History of Cloud Computing
The actual origin of the term “cloud” in the context of computing has remained unclear
in the literature; however, most technology historians agree that the idea of the cloud
came originally from basic virtualization of IT infrastructures [7–10]. Prior to adopting
the conventional term “cloud”, IT specialist had long practiced the art of replacing actual
IT infrastructures with their virtual equivalents. This was initially adopted as a cost‐
saving strategy, but soon it also became a feasible means of improving flexibility and
enhancing the speed of communication networks [6].
The initial idea of what we commonly refer to as “cloud computing” today can be
traced back in the 1950s, when firms and organizations began to adopt and optimize the
use of large‐scale mainframe computers by allowing multiple users simultaneous access
to both hardware resources and shared central processing units (CPUs). Companies like
IBM and DEC were known for such solutions at the time. Going through the 1960s to
the mid‐1990s, the idea of cloud computing had evolved through various significant
phases and milestones. This includes the ARPANET in the late 1960s and 1970s, the
CSNET in the early 1980s and the Telescript in the mid‐1990s. However, the most
remarkable evolution was seen in the late 1990s, when the Web 2.0 was introduced; for
the first time in computing history, enterprise applications were able to be delivered
over the internet [8]. Salesforce.com was a key player at this time, being one of the first
companies to experiment with the idea of delivering contents over the web. About the
same time, the Virtual Private Network (VPN) was born, allowing interconnection
between multiple private networks over a public shared network such as the Internet.
The modern version of cloud computing came in the early 2000s after the dot‐com
bubble burst, with Amazon taking the lead with the implementation of a fully web‐
based retail service in 2002. Another milestone to cloud computing was seen in 2006
when Google launched its Google Docs services, which brought cloud computing services directly to end users [10,11]. In late 2000s, the advent of low‐cost, high‐capacity
network and storage devices and infrastructures led to a wider adoption of the cloud