Predictive digital twin driven trust model for cloud service providers with Fuzzy inferred trust score calculation

Abstract Cloud computing has become integral to modern computing infrastructure, offering scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Trust is a critical aspect of cloud computing, influencing user decisions in selecting Cloud Service Providers (CSPs). This paper provides a comprehensive review of existing trust models in cloud computing, including agreement-based, SLA-based, certificate-based, feedback-based, domain-based, prediction-based, and reputation-based models. Building on this foundation, we propose a novel methodology for creating a trust model in cloud computing using digital twins for CSPs. The digital twin is augmented with a fuzzy inference system, which computes the trust score of a CSP based on trust-related parameters. The architecture of the digital twin with the fuzzy inference system is detailed, outlining how it processes security parameter values obtained through penetration testing mechanisms. These parameter values are transformed into crisp values using a linear ridge regression function and then fed into the fuzzy inference system to calculate a final trust score for the CSP. The paper also presents the outputs of the fuzzy inference system, demonstrating how different security parameter inputs yield various trust scores. This methodology provides a robust framework for assessing CSP trustworthiness and enhancing decision-making processes in cloud service selection.