Integrating Symmetric Ciphers and Hashing for Resilient Cloud Data Protection

Abstract

The growth of cloud computing has revolutionized how data is stored and managed, bringing increased efficiency and flexibility. However, this shift also introduces significant security concerns, particularly around the protection of sensitive information. This study addresses these concerns by exploring hybrid cryptographic approaches to strengthen data security within cloud environments. Specifically, it investigates the combined use of AES and ChaCha20 for encryption, along with SHA-3 for generating secure hash values. The encryption process involves securing plaintext files using a layered AES+ChaCha20 approach, followed by hashing the encrypted output with SHA-3 to generate a consistent message digest. The research evaluates these algorithms in terms of encryption strength, performance efficiency, and resistance to modern cryptographic attacks. Through detailed testing and analysis, the study demonstrates how hybrid encryption can effectively reduce vulnerabilities commonly found in cloud computing. The results aim to support the development of more secure data protection practices, offering valuable guidance for organizations relying on cloud services to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of their data.