A hybrid lightweight blockchain based encryption scheme for security enhancement in cloud computing

Cloud services provide an optimal form of demand based data outsourcing. The large amount of user data sharing increases the possibility of attacks, and unauthorized users get easy data access to the data. Blockchain technology provides better security in the cloud based on its distributed and highly cohesive nature. In order to enhance the block chain based encryption process, the second work intends to propose a blockchain based hybrid optimized cryptography scheme for secure cloud storage. At first, key generation is performed using the ECC approach in the cloud. In cloud user registration, keys and data are needed, and the cloud will provide the user ID. Then, the optimal key selection is performed by using flamingo search optimization (FSO). The public and the private key is selected by using this optimization approach. Afterwards, data encryption is performed using the Elgamal scheme on the owner side. This hybrid lightweight elliptic Elgamal based encryption (HLEEE) approach in key generation and data encryption process increases data security. After the authentication process, the cloud controller maintains the blockchain to protect the data and signatures of the users by generating the hash in blocks. An optimal hash generation is performed using the SHA-256 approach in the blockchain. The generated hash value, encrypted data and timestamp are stored in each block to provide more security. Finally, blockchain validation is performed using the proof of authority (PoA) approach.