2022 International Conference on Machine Learning, Big Data, Cloud and Parallel Computing (COM-IT-CON), 26-27 May 2022.
Blockchain and Cloud Computing- A Review
2022 International Conference on Machine Learning, Big Data, Cloud and Parallel Computing (COM-IT-CON) | 978-1-6654-9602-5/22/$31.00 ©2022 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/COM-IT-CON54601.2022.9850499
Simran Bhari1, Suhail Javed Quraishi2
1,2
AIT - Computer Science & Engineering, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
1
simranbhari20@gmail.com
2
suhail.e11364@cumail.in
Abstract- Blockchain is a technical breakthrough being investigated
by academics and business across a variety of applications,
encompassing cryptocurrencies, financial businesses, Internet of
things, 5G, risk evaluation, and financial and commercial services.
Cloud technology, on the other hand, is ushering in the Digital Realm
and quickly becoming the most fashionable topic in IT. Cloud
computing, on the other hand, is plagued by a lack of attention,
respect, and responsibility. Blockchain, with its innovative
characteristics such as autonomy and immutability, adds
dependability and authenticity to cloud technology.This research
examines the literature on Blockchain-based enterprise solutions
published between 2008 and 2021. The following manuscript focuses
on the technological integration of Blockchain technology and cloud
infrastructure, as well as the current achievements in the field of
Cryptocurrency cloud technology. To Be precise, we split the
information into three categories: Blockchain employing IaaS,
Blockchain employing PaaS, and Blockchain employing SaaS. We'll
start with a look at a few Blockchain characteristics and how they
relate to cloud services. Then we provide our study methods, as well
as a detailed analysis of important background information.
Following that, we describe cutting-edge studies in Ledger storage-
as-a-service, strategy creation, computation-as-a-service, data
aggregation-as-a-service, microservice-as-a-service, and Acquired by
extraction.The report concludes with the current issues in Blockchain
based cloud technology, their expected obstacles, and potential
studies and opportunities. We believe that research shall give a
complete knowledge of the legitimacy of Blockchain based cloud
technology and will contribute in the creation of the future cloud
computing environment.
KeyWords - Blockchain Technology, Cryptocurrencies, computation-
as-a-service, data aggregation-as-a-service, microservice-as-a-
service, Cloud Computing.
I. INTRODUCTION
Cloud computing is a leading technology that
originated from virtualization. Cloud services aim to limit the
application burden upon customers.[1] There are plenty of
benefits, including decreased equipment and repair costs,
reason for utilization, adjustability among automatic systems,
and simple scaling. IBM, Google and Amazon are among the
big organizations that have embraced cloud computing.
However some apps are adaptations, such as Google App
Engine, Google Cloud Platform, Aws Cloud, Elastic
Computing Platform, and so forth. It features a pay per use
philosophy and a customizable Technology framework that is
available online via mobile devices. Demonstrated by the fact
that this platform provides a plethora of helpful services,
corporations are often hesitant to utilize it owing to security
issues.[20] The primary disadvantages of confining the cloud
include security issues and cloud restrictions. "Cloud
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computing" refers to a network of servers that is accessible
over the internet. It stores, manages, and processes
information. The phrase "cloud computing technology" refers
to a broad range of services.[13] In cloud computing, the
fundamental purpose is to calculate the essential portals:
Processor, random access storage, memory, and internet
connectivity. Typically, cloud computing offers three sorts of
services: Software as a Service (SaaS) refers to applications
that are built for users and are provided through the internet.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) refers to a collection of
equipment and resources that enable the rapid and effective
design and deployment of such apps. Infrastructure as a
Service refers to the gear and technology that power
everything - processors, memory, internet, and software
platforms. Privacy considerations particularly when sensitive
information is being managed. Of course, everything with
internet connection is not completely secure, and even servers
with impenetrable security are vulnerable to assaults. We work
on the Cloud Computing SaaS architecture here. Because of
security concerns, many users are migrating to the public
cloud. A cloud-based record can be hacked since it is
vulnerable to attacks.[15] Many servers now function as
nodes. The article proposes a resolution in the form of
Blockchain, a decentralized technology. The Blockchain
concept is now used in crypto-currency - Bitcoin, a digital
money. In the following section of the paper, we explain
blockchain, and then in section 4 we look at the strategy and
method to building a safe cloud network using blockchain.
Blockchain technology is an integral part of industries that are
striving for advancements in security and privacy. Blockchain
is a type that maintains important information in the matter of
a network with really no central authority. Nodes are the
participants or gadgets in the blockchain system. Blockchain
establishes a distributed system in which all nodes in the
network actively engage in data testing. Cryptography will be
used to encrypt the data that is saved on the blockchain. Each
block has an encoded cipher, a timestamp, and the block
header contained in the connection by which the block will
connect. As a result, information just on digital ledgers is
immutable. Ledger encrypts files, and clients will be approved
in the channel, lowering confidentiality worries.[16] To
encourage the growth of cloud computing, we may address
confidentiality issues by incorporating distributed ledger. This
enhances security of information and availability of service, as
well as the management of cloud data.
 A. Cloud Computing
There are several websites that are maintained via the web
in the present digital era. The hosted site is anticipated to be
handled by a stack of servers, which is highly expensive. The
processors' visitation rate must be consistent, and they must be
checked and maintained to ensure.[12] Furthermore,
additional personnel are required to arrange and maintain
these servers. This data will be stored in cloud services. As a
result, our continued efforts to handle the server problem as
well as the person may divert our attention away from
achieving business objectives. To lessen this rigorous upkeep,
users are employing “Cloud based applications”. Cloud
computing is a means of constructing a web infrastructure of
numerous computers to analyze and interpret records from
anywhere in the globe. This is utilized to replace a virtual
machine or a system. Cloud based utilities, similar as file
storage and software delivery, supplied to establishment
devices over the internet. Cloud computing provides several
benefits by connecting computer networks, resources, and
devices over the internet. The utilities are based on payment
per usage regulations. Such utilities are rendered anywhere
worldwide also with considerably lower price transactions,
boosting teamwork. The cloud's program will be constantly
updated, allowing the cloud to be readily operated. The
ordinary client will also retain ownership of the documents
stored in the cloud. It even has certain limitations.[6] Although
data in the cloud is so flexible, there are various encryption
and confidentiality challenges that must be tackled, along with
breaches. Many activities are offered through the cloud, and
are categorized. Firstly, is Software as a Service, which is
really a product that is hosted and delivered to clients through
the internet. The Cloud platform offers entire programmes and
initiatives as a unified interface of programs working in the
cloud, delivering a scope of solutions to a big number of
clients. The cloud infrastructure is not accessible to cloud
services. SaaS examples include Amazon internet services,
SalesForce.com, and Google Mail. The second choice is PaaS.
We may deploy our software and scripting language suites
within the platform thanks to the cloud service provider. The
distinction in Software as a Service and Platform as a Service
is that Software as a Service performs the full program on the
cloud, whereas Platform as a Service offers a program
framework. Google search engine is an instance of Platform as
a Service. The next utility is Infrastructure as a Service, which
enables clients to authenticate memory, processor, and several
virtual servers. Virtualization is used in Infrastructure as a
Service to disperse equipment in order to fulfill the resource
demands of cloud clients.[8] The ideal virtualization strategy
is to build distinct VMs that are isolated from either the actual
machine or other Vm. They supply servers with multiple IP
addresses to guarantee security. The most prominent example
of IaaS is Amazon EC2, Go Grid.
B. Blockchain
The creation of Blockchain technology coincided
with the introduction of Bitcoin. Bitcoin is a virtual currency
invented in 2008 by a fake identity known as "Satoshi
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Nakamoto."[7] He just released a paper titled "Bitcoin: Peer -
To - Peer Electronic Cash System," which allows us to
conduct straight contactless transactions between one client to
another without the use of a third party.[5] The e-cash system
considerably tackles the problem of double-spending money,
given to the electronic currency's capacity to be readily
reproduced or expended more than once. The challenge is
handled by tamper-resistantly associating each activity with a
unique entity. The public blockchain is being used to
seamlessly connect transactions. When we compare
Blockchain to Bitcoin, we see blockchain is a system that
other cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, use for safe and
unknown transactions. This is a decentralized, accessible
blockchain used to swiftly or persistently record agreements.
"Blockchain is an unbreakable record for maintaining track of
financial operations that can be configured to hold anybody
who has a value, not only financial transactions."[17]
Whenever we employ Distributed ledger, so no need for
government involvement, and consensus confirmation
eliminates any fraud. By eliminating the requirement for a
third party, quick payments may be done without paying
transaction costs. These traits gain greater productivity.
Regardless of having various benefits, distributed ledger has
major negatives, like it being very volatile. Because
unidentified actions are detectable by the individual and
perhaps nodes far from the network, there is risk of an
increase in communal crime.
II. SECURITY WITHIN CLOUD
Cloud computing is often reviewed owing to its CIA triad,
particularly the customer’s identity should be kept reserved to
prevent the information from monetary destruction. We can
secure the privacy of users’ data by integrating the blockchain
system with cloud technology. As discussed, when distributed
ledger is used, a digital wallet is implemented, and when users'
data is no longer necessary, the data must be erased. The
blockchain is used to wipe the user's data via cloud
computing. On aspects of purity, complexity, and secrecy, the
approach varies from existing studies. Integrity guarantees that
the user-supplied data used in transactions is not modified or
manipulated without the user's permission.[10] The lack of
visibility ensures that the affiliates' transfer of money are not
identified. The user's information is preserved and hidden to
the greatest extent possible by solitariness. Following
authentication, we send a verification between both the digital
wallet and the network. Following encryption using a shared
secret key, the ledger data, including timestamps between
them, is sent.[23] Whenever the customer verification has
been provided, we effectively cleanse the e-wallet, ensuring
the confidentiality of the customer's details, with the
remaining information being destroyed when the service is
ended. As soon as the last communication is directed, the e-
wallet securely decouples the customer's data. By permitting
the usage of electronic wallets, users' records can be
completely deleted, and assurance of information leak
avoidance is abolished. Blockchain technology might be used
to remove a person's cloud computing data. If we are wiping
 the data, we must also include a level of adhesive recovery,
which includes verifying the dual identification
ation and preserving
the recovered customer's existing data. A 51 percent assault is
a group of miners who control more than half of the
calculating capacity. Until more than a majority of nodes
assisting with payments are corrupt, users will be succeeding
in contaminating the network as well as changing the
transaction in the blockchain. The 51 percent attack has the
potential to compromise the data or transactions of the user's
integrity by altering 50 % share of the ledger. It also does not
ensure security
ty for the user's leftover information since it does
not check correct electronic wallet disposal.[22] In electronic
wallets, the security protection and erasure of leftover user
information are properly eliminated.
III. RELATIONSHIPS B/W BLOCKCHAIN AND CLOUD
LOUD COMPUTING
FIGURE1 : BLOCKCHAIN IN CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE
The security issues in the cloud computing environment
we discussed before are supposed to be solved by blockchain
technology. Blockchain technology can solve the recognized
cloud forensic problem blem inherent in the hypervisor
vulnerabilities, where the attacker can remove all evidence of
an attack from the cloud environment. Because of the message
exchange of blockchain, particularly the public peer
peer-to-peer
blockchain, all transaction data are recorded
corded and difficult to
remove when using Blockchain technology.[1] Therefore, all
acts conducted in the cloud environment are recorded; hence,
cloud providers may spend less time detecting the assaults and
comply with GDPR by being able to inform the supe supervisory
authority within 72 hours.[4] This blockchain strategy
comprises spreading the blockchain ledgers over numerous
locations and cloud instances. As a result, it becomes more
difficult for the attacker to mess with the transaction data,
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because the larger
rger the number of blockchain nodes, the more
difficult it is to manipulate the data. This blockchain solution
to the security and legal issues in the cloud forensic quandary
comes at a cost. The widespread distribution of blockchain
ledgers adds performance ce costs. i.e. increased latency
problems. Key management and cryptography are not strong
in cloud computing, as the cloud virtual environment may be
hacked and its instances can be managed with escalated
rights.[2] This challenge may be overcome by consensus
consen and
cryptography techniques given by blockchain to enable secure
identity management, authentication, validation of user
authentication, as well as authorization to access and use cloud
services and billing for cloud usage using smart contracts. The
benefits
nefits of this technology on its own, as well as when paired
with certain other technologies, provide a multitude of
advantages.
The fundamental difficulty of cloud computing, that is
confidentiality, is ministered to when cloud computing is
integrated with h blockchain technology.[18] So according to
Forbes, in 2021, 64 percent of those surveyed estimate that the
largest cloud security concern is data loss/leakage.[14]
Encryption of information accounts for the confidentiality and
secure databases that blockchain
chain delivers. Also according to
the Statistics research, 44 percent of those surveyed regard
accessibility as a severe concern to cloud security as well.
Blockchain involves establishing a decentralized network trust
paradigm that gives more visibility. Public blockchain allows
every action to be visible and removes the restriction of info.
Data once saved on the blockchain cannot be just modified by
anybody. Whitewashing data from anyone’s computer on a
blockchain network does not affect the data kept on other
devices in the network, hence assuring no data loss and
authenticity.
It gives the user control of data which would be the demand of
the hour. All information stored on the blockchain is always
there. This enables simple tracking of information, about ab
where, why, and how it has been employed or by whom. The
record of information for any payments or updates conducted
functions as an inspection and verification benefit.[21]
Cloud computing offers third-party
party services, and a financial
meltdown of the third
hird vendors might lead to a considerable
loss of data for organizations. Blockchain on either side are
governed by rules and do not feature third-party
third constraints,
and thus can be a safer choice to move forward with.
Blockchain is transforming industries for the better, including
critical domains such as health, farming, banking, commerce,
and more.[19]
IV. BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES
ES FROM EACH EMERGING
EMERGIN
TECHNOLOGY
A. Cloud computing
Innovative Characteristics
● The shared environment of scalable virtual IT
resources
ources enabled by the hypervisor
● Centralized architecture
 ● Geographically distributed
● Utilized on-demand
● Paid per use
● Automatically provisioned
● Various service models
● Deployed as public or private or mixed.
Benefits
● Reduced IT capital expenditures
● Outsourcing IT skills
● More focus on core business activities.
Challenges
● Technical: security weaknesses in the hypervisor
(single point of failure) and cloud forensic problem.
● Legal: GDPR compliance issues associated with the
location of data and traceability of attacks. -
Economic: hidden costs associated with addressing
compliance and interoperability challenges, poor
service selection, bandwidth charges.[11]
● Organizational: related to the size and type of
organization, change from in-house expertise to
service integration (misconfiguration can happen),
and service level negotiation.[9]
B. Blockchain
Innovative challenges
● Decentralized P2P design - A peer-to-peer (P2P)
service is a decentralized platform in which two
people connect directly with each other without the
use of a third-party intermediary. Rather, the
contracting parties transact with each other directly
through the P2P service.
● Distributed ledger -Relies on cryptographic
techniques
● Immutability of transaction data records
● Transparency
● Decentralized/centralized consensus mechanism to
validate blocks of transactions
● Deployed as public permissionless or private
permissioned (controlled by a central authority)
(managed by a central authority)
● Automated logic of transaction contract and
validation methods.
Benefits
● Reduced transaction costs -Reduced corruption
● Ensured data privacy and integrity
● Ensured traceability of transactions
Challenges
● Technical: Security difficulties (decentralized
consensus system is prone to DDoS assault and
centralized consensus mechanism is prone to 51
percent attack) (decentralized consensus mechanism
is prone to DDoS attack and centralized consensus
mechanism is prone to 51 percent attack)
(decentralized consensus mechanism is prone to
DDoS attack and centralized consensus mechanism is
prone to 51 percent attack).[3]
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● Lack of standards.
● Implementation issues.
● Unproven technology.
● Scalability issues.
● Program design flaws.
● Key generation faults.
● Energy usage through consensus procedures.
● Legal: compliance difficulties connected to the
immutability in contrast with the right to be forgotten
under GDPR
● Organizational: connected to investment
uncertainties.
● Expensive skilled personnel Business: lack of
established coalitions.
CONCLUSION
Cloud computing has been a good innovation since it has
evolved for several years. However, people are working hard
to solve several challenges with cloud computing including
confidentiality and protection, management of information,
compatibility, etc. Distributed ledgers is an emerging platform
well known because of its confidentiality, and validity, and
have been the primary traits that are helping the world migrate
to that direction. On mixing Distributed ledger and cloud
technology, there exist different improvements regarding
utility, credibility, protection, scalability, data storage, and
several benefits. With this study, we covered cloud and
blockchain technology. We explored the scope of combining
the distributed ledgers platform with a flexible virtualized
environment to increase the level of confidence, service
delivery, confidentiality and information retrieval.
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