THE EVOLVING CLOUD SECURITY LANDSCAPE: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

Cloud Computing has emerged as a pivotal technology in the IT industry over recent years. Its widespread adoption can be attributed to the significant economic benefits it offers. Numerous Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) now enable users to host their applications and data on cloud platforms. However, a major challenge persists in the form of Cloud Security, which hinders the full- scale adoption and utilization of cloud services. This issue continues to prevent many users from taking advantage of the diverse services cloud computing offers. To address these concerns, various mechanisms have been developed to mitigate potential risks under the umbrella of cloud security. In this paper, we propose a Hybrid Cryptographic System (HCS), which combines the strengths of both symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques to create a secure cloud environment. The study focuses on designing a robust cloud ecosystem that integrates multi-factor authentication and incorporates multiple layers of hashing and encryption to enhance security. The proposed system and algorithms are implemented using the CloudSim simulator. The paper also demonstrates the functionality of the system and presents the results obtained from the simulations, showcasing how the proposed solution ensures data security and privacy within the cloud ecosystem.