Private compute & AI
Lit Protocol vs Google Confidential Cloud
Private compute with programmable key control.
Compare Confidential Space’s workload identity and IAM policies with Lit’s contract-governed runtime and programmable keys.
Scope: Google Cloud Confidential Space, rather than every Google confidential-computing product; Lit Protocol using the ChainSecured method.
Lit assessment
Why choose Lit
Lit combines confidential execution with programmable keys and on-chain permissions. A Lit Action can read external data, decrypt a secret, or sign a transaction; collaborators can inspect the runtime’s release approvals on Base. Choose Lit when private computation and authorized actions belong in one application. AI deployments are scoped with our team.[1][2][3]
Tradeoffs to weigh
Both require trusted hardware, correct application code, and sound policy. For AI on Lit, scope the model, compute requirements, data boundary, and egress with the team. This comparison does not establish equivalent GPU support, training capacity, or latency.
Architecture, side by side
| Dimension | Google Confidential Cloud | Lit (ChainSecured mode) |
|---|---|---|
| Workload identity | Confidential Space exposes workload image digests and other attestation claims. Data owners can restrict access to an expected image.[4] | Hardware measurements identify the running environment. Approved deployment hashes are recorded in on-chain KMS contracts.[5][2] |
| Authorization | Data collaborators configure workload identity and IAM policies. Custom-audience attestation tokens also support resources outside Google Cloud.[6] | Lit runs the confidential infrastructure. Contract-governed runtime key release makes deployment authorization publicly inspectable.[2] |
| Change control | Image conditions and role bindings are configured through the collaborator’s cloud resource policies.[6] | An approved hash change is an on-chain transaction; deployment is a separate operational step.[7] |
Workload identity
- Google Confidential Cloud
- Confidential Space exposes workload image digests and other attestation claims. Data owners can restrict access to an expected image.[4]
- Lit (ChainSecured mode)
- Hardware measurements identify the running environment. Approved deployment hashes are recorded in on-chain KMS contracts.[5][2]
Authorization
- Google Confidential Cloud
- Data collaborators configure workload identity and IAM policies. Custom-audience attestation tokens also support resources outside Google Cloud.[6]
- Lit (ChainSecured mode)
- Lit runs the confidential infrastructure. Contract-governed runtime key release makes deployment authorization publicly inspectable.[2]