Blockchain-Based Secure Data Sharing in Distributed Systems

Abstract

Secure data sharing in distributed systems has become increasingly challenging due to concerns related to data integrity, unauthorized access, and lack of centralized control. Traditional security mechanisms often fail to provide transparency, immutability, and trust among multiple untrusted participants in decentralized environments. This study explores a blockchain-based framework for secure and efficient data sharing in distributed systems, leveraging cryptographic techniques and decentralized ledger technology to enhance data security and accessibility. The proposed methodology integrates a permissioned blockchain architecture with smart contracts to regulate data access, authentication, and transaction validation. Data encryption is applied before storage, while hash-based indexing ensures integrity verification without exposing sensitive information. Smart contracts are designed to automate access control policies, ensuring that only authorized users can retrieve or modify shared data. Experimental evaluation is conducted using a simulated distributed network environment to assess performance metrics such as latency, throughput, security strength, and scalability. The results demonstrate that the blockchain-based model significantly improves data integrity and reduces the risk of unauthorized modifications compared to conventional centralized and hybrid storage systems. Although a slight increase in processing overhead is observed due to consensus mechanisms, the trade-off is justified by enhanced security and transparency. Furthermore, the system exhibits strong resistance to common cyberattacks including data tampering, replay attacks, and unauthorized access attempts. The study concludes that blockchain technology provides a robust and scalable solution for secure data sharing in distributed systems, particularly in applications requiring high trust and data accountability. The proposed framework supports the advancement of secure decentralized architectures in domains such as cloud computing, healthcare data exchange, and collaborative industrial systems.