Privacy Preserving Blockchain Architecture for Securing Cloud Based Information Systems

Abstract

Cloud computing has emerged as the dominant platform for contemporary data management and service provision. However, its centralized nature poses significant risks to security, privacy, and trust. Distributed systems can enhance data integrity and auditability by incorporating blockchain technology, which offers a decentralized and tamper-resistant approach. Nevertheless, the inherent transparency of blockchain conflicts with the confidentiality requirements of cloud environments. This review paper analyzes existing studies on privacy-preserving blockchain architectures designed to secure cloud-based information systems. A systematic literature review methodology was adopted, examining forty-eight peer-reviewed studies published between 2018 and 2024. The findings reveal that researchers have explored approaches such as encryption, zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and hybrid on/off-chain models to balance transparency and privacy. Scalability, interoperability, and regulatory compliance remain key challenges, particularly in permissioned blockchains, which nevertheless offer advantages in governance and compliance. The study identifies research gaps and future directions, including the development of common privacy frameworks, integration of confidential computing, and establishment of standardized evaluation metrics. Overall, privacy-sensitive blockchain architectures hold strong potential for creating trustworthy and secure cloud systems.