ing app will link all uploaded songs to Blockchain based smart contracts that designate payment to the lyricist , producer , performer , etc ., based on the number of plays a song receives . PeerTracks also issues its own form of cryptocurrency called “ artist tokens ”. These are tokens artists can sell to early listeners to fund their hopeful rise to fame . A purchase of a token will link the listener to a smart contract that the artist can later pay out in perks , such as concert tickets . As the artist becomes more popular , the value of the token increases , incentivizing token holders to promote their favorite artists . Other startups like Ujo Music and Proof of Existence are also attempting to solve the age-old problem of protecting intellectual property , ensuring that creators get fair credit and value for their original works .
Many More
There are even applications that move beyond current ways of thinking . For example , after IBM purchased Weather . com , a weather data provider , they found that integrating weather data and forecasts with Blockchain technology could create an interesting new paradigm . According to IBM , more and more businesses are taking an interest in finding out more about the weather system . For instance , the ability to leverage weather data to determine its effects on the retail market , or the ability to get a humidity and temperature reading to determine the proper mix of chemicals for a manufacturing process . With Blockchain technology , IBM can offer different “ tiers ” of information , depending upon what consumers want . Blockchain is available at all times , to people all over the world , at no cost . Additionally , Blockchain can be used to store , transmit and share all types of data at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions .
Blockchain and the Cloud
IBM has taken the lead in moving Blockchain applications to the cloud . Enterprises now have a secure IBM Cloud environment to develop Blockchain applications that will meet regulatory requirements .
IBM took elements of the Linux Foundation ’ s open source Hyperledger Project to develop this environment . Using these elements as the basis , they tested the code and certified the framework as secure .
Finally , IBM made all of it available in a dedicated environment within IBM ’ s Softlayer Cloud .
IBM ’ s approach to Blockchain leverages industry standards such as Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS 140-2 ), Evaluation Assurance Levels ( EAL ), Sarbanes-Oxley ( SOX ) Act , Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA ), Gramm- Leach-Bliley Act , Federal Information Security Management Act ( FISMA ) and , finally , the European Union Protection Directive . IBM met its objective to provide government , financial services and healthcare organizations with an environment to securely build and use Blockchain networks .
According to an InfoWorld article on the topic : “ The cloud services have been optimized for cloud-based Blockchain networks by providing an auditable operating environment with the comprehensive log data necessary for forensics and compliance . Cryptographic keys are secured in tamper-resistant storage . The modules also detect and respond to unauthorized attempts to access the keys . Members in a Blockchain network do not share any aspect of the operating environment , such as memory , disk drives or hardware , to prevent data or memory leakage .”
IBM is not the only Cloud / Blockchain game in town . Microsoft has been adding Blockchain as a Service ( BaaS ) offerings to the Azure marketplace . Microsoft also has a partnership with a consortium of more than 40 banks , including Goldman Sachs . These institutions have been granted open access to Azure and dedicated Microsoft staff to build their Blockchain applications . Microsoft has also worked with Ripple , a cryptographic ledger software vendor , and other startups to develop new Blockchain applications .
Why Cloud-Based Blockchain ?
Core to the questions out there is that , if Blockchain needs the ultimate in security , why is public cloud a fit , such as the IBM and Microsoft solutions mentioned above ?
There are a few key reasons why public cloud is the preferred platform :
• High performance computing and I / O is needed to manage the security processing
50 | THE DOPPLER | SUMMER 2016