Cloud Computing Cryptography

Hello there, this time my topic is related to a little something I found and learned a little bit on this particular subject, in the internet related to Cloud Computing, this article is on Cloud Computing Cryptography as one can see in the heading. Here, I would be writing on What is Cloud Cryptography?; How does it Work?; How can it help secure data?; and its Advantages and Disadvantages respectively.

Cloud Cryptography:

Cloud Cryptography is encryption technique/method that works by safeguarding the data that is stored within the cloud. Several kinds of measures are being placed within cloud cryptography which mainly handles the work of adding a strong layer of protection to secure data to make it so as to avoid being breached, hacked or affected by malware. Any and almost all data that are to be hosted by cloud providers are secured with encryption, while also making sure to allow the users to access shared cloud services securely and conveniently as per their requirements. Cloud Cryptography mainly does the work of securing sensitive data without delaying the delivery of information.

Cloud cryptography are able to keep your critical data secure even beyond your corporate IT environment, where that data is no longer even under your control.

Cryptography expert Ralph Spencer Power explains this as, “information in motion and information at rest are best protected by cryptographic security measures. In the Cloud, we don’t have the luxury of having actual, physical control over the storage of information, so the only way we can ensure that the information is protected is for it to be stored cryptographically, with us maintaining control of the cryptographic key.”

How does Cloud Cryptography work?

Cloud cryptography is mainly based on encryption, where methods of different kinds are used by combining some algorithms and computers techniques that are then used to scramble text into a mixed code, known as ciphertext. The ciphertext can then later be changed into plaintext through an encryption key, by decoding it with series of bits.

Encryption is used to secure two types of data known as: information at rest and information in transit.

Information at rest is when the data is actually stored electronically through the cloud, mobile devices, apps or even computer hard drives. Whereas, information in transit means this information is usually moving through the connections online such as, apps, emails or browsers. Data encryption can take place using one of the following ways:

• Full disk encryption – This is the main way to safeguard hard drives on computers and when any files are saved on an external drive, it will be automatically encrypted.
• End-to-end encryption – Senders and receivers send messages, whereby they are the only ones who can read it. For example, Facebook makes use of this in its messenger application.
• File encryption – This is when at rest data is encrypted, so that if an unauthorized person tries to intercept a file, they will not be able to access the information it holds. 
• Pre-encrypting data that’s synced with the cloud – Before information gets to the cloud, there is software available to pre-encrypt it, making it impossible to read for anyone who tries to hack it.

How Cryptography can secure Cloud Data?

Cryptography is a technique that allows users to protect information and communications with the help of codes or keys. Many of you may have heard of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Interestingly, I have found this fact that these kind of interchangeable digital means would quite frequently have to uses cryptography to verify their asset transfer, control the creation of additional units, and shield transactions.

Cryptography is able to bring the same level of security to cloud services by protecting the data stored with encryption. Interestingly, not forgetting to mention that cryptography can guard sensitive cloud data without even delaying the transmission of information, and that is quite an advantage if I so say myself. Many different companies whether large or small most of the time define cryptographic protocols for their cloud computing to maintain a balance between security and efficiency; according to each their respective needs.

Physical control over cloud storage is not in any way possible. The only most secured way to secure a piece of information and keep it safe is to protect it with cryptography while maintaining control over the cryptographic key. There are several types of cryptographic keys or algorithms available for cloud security, but for now I would like to mention only three of the most re-known ones.

Cryptography is based on three algorithms:

1. Symmetric-key 
2. Asymmetric-key
3. Hashing

• Symmetric algorithms use one key for both encryption and data decryption. It does not require much computational power and works very high in encryption. The symmetrical systems provide a two-way system for users to ensure authentication and authorization. Unless the user has the key, the encrypted data is stored in the Cloud, and cannot be decoded. 
• Asymmetric algorithms use different keys for encryption and decryption. Here, each recipient requires a decryption key. This key is often referred to as the recipient’s private key. The encryption key usually belongs to a specific person or entity. This type of algorithm is considered the safest as it requires both keys to access a piece of specific information.
• Hashing is one of the most important aspect of blockchain security. In the blockchain, information is stored in blocks and interconnected with cryptographic principles such as a string or chain. When a data block is added to the chain, a unique code or hash is assigned to the specific block. Hashing is mainly used for indexing and retrieving items in a database. It also uses two different keys for encrypting and decrypting a message. It also provides faster data retrieval.

Advantages of Cloud Cryptography:

• The data remains private for the users. This reduces cybercrime from hackers.
• Organization receive notifications immediately if an unauthorized person tries to make modifications. The users who have cryptographic keys are granted access.
• The encryption prevents the data from being vulnerable when the data is being brought over from one computer to another,
• Cloud encryption permits organizations to be proactive in their defence against data breaches and cyberattacks and have become a necessity in today’s data-driven world.
• Receivers of the data have the ability to identify if the data received is corrupted, permitting an immediate response and solution to the attack.
• Encryption is one of the safest methods to store and transfer the data as it complies with the restrictions imposed by organizations such as FIPS, FISMA, HIPAA or PCI/DSS.

Disadvantages of Cloud Cryptography:

• Cloud cryptography only grants limited security to the data which is already in transit.
• It needs highly advanced systems to maintain encrypted data.
• The systems must be scalable enough to upgrade which adds to the involved expenses.
• Overprotective measures can create difficulties for organizations when recovering data.

Conclusion:

Now concluding my article, I would only like to say a few more things on this topic and that is; cloud cryptography is encryption to safeguard any data stored on the cloud. It does the work of protecting the clients or businesses from unauthenticated users, who most of the time might have some malicious plans by using their data. An encryption technique is used that is a code known as ciphertext and there are numerous ways data can be encrypted.

Many companies large or small must implement security solutions that provide consistent protection for sensitive data, including the protection of cloud information through encryption and cryptographic key management. They must also have a comprehensive cloud security management capabilities, enabling enterprises to make extensive use of encryption, so that they can meet their security objectives.

Reference:

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261201256_Use_of_cryptography_in_cloud_computing
2. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/an-overview-of-cloud-cryptography/
3. https://www.ijert.org/cloud-cryptography-a-security-aspect
4. https://www.cloudmanagementinsider.com/cloud-cryptography/