Blockchain-enabled Data Governance Framework for Enhancing Security and Efficiency in Multi-Cloud Environments through Ethereum, IPFS, and Cloud Infrastructure Integration

Abstract

In today's digital landscape, the exponential growth of big data demands secure and efficient processing, particularly in complex multi-cloud environments. This paper proposes an innovative blockchain-enabled data governance framework, revolutionizing data management, processing, and security across diverse cloud infrastructures. The framework integrates cutting-edge technologies, including the Ethereum blockchain, the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) protocol, and cloud solutions like OpenStack and Red Hat OpenShift. At its core, the framework utilizes Ethereum's robust smart contracts and consensus mechanisms to establish a decentralized and secure data governance model. This ensures data integrity, transparency, and immutability, mitigating risks associated with centralized storage and processing. The IPFS protocol complements blockchain by offering efficient data sharding and retrieval mechanisms, enhancing data accessibility and fault tolerance in distributed cloud environments. Through comprehensive testing and analysis, the proposed framework's value is demonstrated. Performance metrics, including throughput, latency, CPU utilization, and memory utilization, were meticulously evaluated to assess system efficiency and scalability. Results indicate high performance, with Ethereum's Proof of Authority (PoA) consensus mechanism enabling efficient transaction throughput of up to 1000 transactions per second. Additionally, the IPFS protocol exhibits effective data retrieval capabilities, with an average latency of 15 milliseconds for data access operations.