Efficient method of Secure Authorized Data Deduplication at Small Block Level Approach in Cloud Storage

Overview

Secure authorized data deduplication at the small block level in cloud storage requires a methodical approach to ensure both efficiency and security. Here’s a streamlined method:

1. Block Hashing: Break down data into small fixed-size blocks and compute cryptographic hashes (such as SHA-256) for each block. This allows identification and comparison of duplicate blocks without exposing their content.

2. Data Encryption: Encrypt each block using a secure encryption algorithm (e.g., AES-256) with unique keys. This ensures confidentiality, preventing unauthorized access to data.

3. Index Management: Maintain an index that maps the hashes of encrypted blocks to their locations in storage. This index is crucial for identifying duplicates and managing access rights.

4. Authorization Mechanism: Implement a robust access control mechanism to ensure that only authorized users or applications can access the index and perform deduplication operations. This may involve using cryptographic keys, access tokens, or role-based access control (RBAC).

5. Deduplication Process: Compare hashes of incoming blocks with those in the index to identify duplicates. If a match is found, the new block is not stored again; instead, references to the existing block are updated.

6. Verification and Integrity: Periodically verify the integrity of stored data blocks and the index to detect any unauthorized modifications or corruption. Use techniques like Merkle trees for efficient verification.

7. Audit and Logging: Maintain audit logs of deduplication operations and access to sensitive components. This helps in monitoring and identifying any potential security breaches or anomalies.

8. Compliance and Standards: Ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations and standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) to protect user privacy and maintain trust.

By combining these steps, cloud storage providers can achieve efficient and secure authorized data deduplication at the small block level. This approach minimizes storage overhead, enhances data security through encryption and access control, and ensures compliance with data protection regulations. Regular updates and improvements based on evolving security threats and technological advancements are essential to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of stored data.