The Rise of Cloud Computing: Data Protection, Privacy, and Open Research Challenges—A Systematic Literature Review (SLR)

Abstract

Cloud computing is a long-standing dream of computing as a utility, where users can store their data remotely in the cloud to enjoy on-demand services and high-quality applications from a shared pool of configurable computing resources. Thus, the privacy and security of data are of utmost importance to all of its users regardless of the nature of the data being stored. In cloud computing environments, it is especially critical because data is stored in various locations, even around the world, and users do not have any physical access to their sensitive data. Therefore, we need certain data protection techniques to protect the sensitive data that is outsourced over the cloud. In this paper, we conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to illustrate all the data protection techniques that protect sensitive data outsourced over cloud storage. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to synthesize, classify, and identify important studies in the field of study. Accordingly, an evidence-based approach is used in this study. Preliminary results are based on answers to four research questions. Out of 493 research articles, 52 studies were selected. 52 papers use different data protection techniques, which can be divided into two main categories, namely noncryptographic techniques and cryptographic techniques. Noncryptographic techniques consist of data splitting, data anonymization, and steganographic techniques, whereas cryptographic techniques consist of encryption, searchable encryption, homomorphic encryption, and signcryption. In this work, we compare all of these techniques in terms of data protection accuracy, overhead, and operations on masked data. Finally, we discuss the future research challenges facing the implementation of these techniques.

Implementation of cloud computing in the German healthcare system

“…The consensus along experts - not only from Germany - points out that the healthcare system is more than ready for the start of implementation of cloud-based medical data applications, which have the potential to create a decentralized, interoperable ecosystem for the legitimate use and exchange of medical data 24 . The use and improvement of Cloud Computing is mainly driven by the advantages of resilience, networking, and strict adherence to data protection 25 . The technical advantages of cloud computing cannot be denied.…”

Cryptographic Solutions for Data Security in Cloud Computing:

“…Cloud computing continues to surpass conventional on-site data centers in popularity because of the advantages of agility, scalability, and availability as well as the capacity to speed up the creation of work and reduce operational expenses via the effective use of pay-as-you-use services [5,6]. This has compelled technology behemoths to spend vast sums of money on cloud computing in order to supply cloud services as contrasted to prior.…”

Data Encryption in Cloud Storage

“…Storing data in the cloud promotes on-demand services and intense applications boosted by a secured system of configurable computing resources [2]. Cloud storage is a new computing and corporate model that delivers on-demand storage and computing resources [3]. The central focus behind cloud computing is providing a practical approach to minimizing operational and capital costs [3].…”

“…Cloud storage is a new computing and corporate model that delivers on-demand storage and computing resources [3]. The central focus behind cloud computing is providing a practical approach to minimizing operational and capital costs [3]. Through cloud computing, users can store and share data courtesy of the internet.…”