The field of serverless computing is moving towards improving efficiency and security. Researchers are exploring ways to optimize resource utilization, reduce latency, and enhance data protection in serverless environments. One notable direction is the development of profile-guided optimization tools that can identify and mitigate inefficient library usage patterns, leading to significant reductions in initialization latency and memory usage. Another area of focus is the creation of cost models that can accurately predict and manage costs across different infrastructure layers and cloud providers. Additionally, there is a growing interest in developing confidential computing systems that can securely manage sensitive data in serverless environments. Noteworthy papers include: Efficient Serverless Cold Start, which presents a tool that achieves up to a 2.30X speedup in initialization latency. Cosmos, which introduces a cost model for serverless workflows that identifies key factors affecting cost changes. CWASI, which reduces communication latency between co-located serverless functions by up to 95%. Hacher, which presents a confidential computing system that improves security, performance, and resource efficiency.