Enhancing Cloud Computing Security Through Blockchain-Based Communication for Electronic Health Records

Noyon, Md Shahed Islam; Moradpoor, Naghmeh; Maglaras, Leandros; Ahmad, Jawad

Abstract

The health sector stands as one of the most crucial and vulnerable domains, harbouring extensive personal data. Particularly, Electronic Health Records store information in electronic media where users lack control over their data. Unauthorized access to the server or record portal could lead to data manipulation across the entire database. Addressing this security concern, blockchain emerges as a potential solution, surpassing traditional systems in data storage capabilities. In the event of unauthorized access, an attacker can only manipulate a single block of data, leaving the remaining information protected. In addition, blockchain offers new opportunities and avenues for research, particularly in terms of security and scalability. The proposed system in this paper, MediRec, aims to ensure that users have complete control over their personal data by employing a decentralized database. This database securely stores and restricts access to data, allowing only the owner to share it using a secure key. MediRec facilitates patients in creating blockchain-based accounts, ensuring each individual possesses a dedicated block for storing personal data. This innovative approach enables patients to schedule appointments, and doctors can prescribe medications, with details and e-prescriptions securely stored within the patient's block. To maintain the integrity of the system, doctors can undergo verification by healthcare services, such as the National Health Service in the UK, ensuring their validation before accessing the blockchain system. This stringent validation process ensures the security and authenticity of the data stored within the blockchain. Overall, the proposed solution in this paper offers robust security and scalability in electronic data storage, providing users with control over their information through a blockchain-based system. This system presents a promising solution in preventing data breaches and safeguarding sensitive healthcare information.

Citation

Noyon, M. S. I., Moradpoor, N., Maglaras, L., & Ahmad, J. (2024, April). Enhancing Cloud Computing Security Through Blockchain-Based Communication for Electronic Health Records. Presented at DCOSS-IoT 2024, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: DCOSS-IoT 2024
• Start Date: Apr 29, 2024
• End Date: May 1, 2024
• Acceptance Date: Mar 21, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Aug 12, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2024
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 516-523
• Series ISSN: 2325-2944
• Book Title: 2024 20th International Conference on Distributed Computing in Smart Systems and the Internet of Things (DCOSS-IoT)
• ISBN: 979-8-3503-6945-8
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/DCOSS-IoT61029.2024.00082
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3572535
• Related Public URLs: https://sites.google.com/view/secriot2024