Blockchain-Enhanced Cloud Security for Zimbabwean Educational Institutions: A Case Study of NUST's Hybrid Infrastructure

This study examined how blockchain technology can improve cloud security for educational institutions in Zimbabwe, using the National University of Science and Technology as a case study. This brought us to our primary research question, which aims to answer how NUST's cloud-based systems can be secure, and private, and enhance integrity by including blockchain technology. This research aims to aid in academic value, as it offers a new hybrid-cloud structure for protecting sensitive data at a time when cyber-attacks continue to rise. The research methods involved a critical review of the literature, an analysis of the current architecture at NUST, and the development and testing of the secure UniBlockNet model. The primary findings demonstrate improvements in data security, immutability, and transparency; there was a 42% increase in audit trail accuracy and a 37% drop in illegal access attempts. It is therefore advised to develop a phased adoption plan to address implementation costs and scale. Some important contributions of this paper are the designing and implementation of an augmented blockchain security framework for Zimbabwean educational institutions and a few practice-based recommendations including, training the staff and policy changes. For this, the methodology used a mixture of quantitative and qualitative approaches, which included security policy review, network topology mapping, and vulnerability assessment. The study concluded that blockchain technology can go far in enhancing cloud security within educational environments, therefore laying the foundation for more resilient digital infrastructure and securing electronic systems operation in the academic sector in Zimbabwe.