Secure Decentralized Cloud Storage Using IPFS and Blockchain | IJCT Volume 12 – Issue 6 | IJCT-V12I6P37
International Journal of Computer Techniques
ISSN 2394-2231
Author
Dhanush BK, Shashanth SV, Charan Gowda GR, Yogesh CC, Rakshitha P
Abstract
Data generation in today’s digital world has grown exponentially, thus raising the demand for secure, reliable, and scalable storage solutions. Traditional centralized cloud storage systems are often beset with problems such as data privacy concerns, single points of failure, and high operational costs. This paper describes a decentralized cloud storage solution developed using IPFS and blockchain technology to address these challenges. IPFS allows for peer-to-peer file sharing using content-addressable storage techniques, ensuring efficient and redundant data distribution. Blockchain is utilized to enforce immutable access control, secure authentication, and transparent transaction records. Together, these technologies provide a trustless, tamper-resistant, and cost- effective alternative to conventional cloud storage systems, improving data availability, security, and user sovereignty. This decentralized approach provides a backbone for a more robust and censorship-resistant digital infrastructure.
Recently, due to the rapid expansion of data and the growing need for secure, scalable, and low-cost storage options, the weaknesses of traditional cloud storage systems have become apparent. This paper proposes a decentralized cloud storage framework that leverages IPFS and blockchain technology to overcome these limitations. IPFS is used for content-addressable peer-to-peer file sharing to distribute and retrieve data efficiently without relying on a central server. Blockchain technology ensures transparency, immutability, and secure management of access control, data integrity, and transactions. The combination of IPFS and blockchain increases fault tolerance, reduces dependence on centralized service providers, and mitigates risks such as data breaches and service outages. As a result, users gain greater control over their data, furthering the goal of a digital infrastructure that is more resilient and resistant to censorship.
Keywords
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Conclusion
To summarize, the integration of IPFS and blockchain technologies offers a solution to many of the challenges that conventional cloud storage systems face. This can be achieved by decentralizing the storage and management processes. It promotes greater security and transparency to reduce dependence on centralized service providers. While IPFS provides efficient data storage and retrieval using content-based addressing, eliminating duplication, and enabling distributed file sharing and content addressing, blockchain ensures data integrity, traceability, and access control in immutable records and digitally enforced smart contracts. Together, they create a resilient infrastructure more resistant to censorship, single points of failure, and unauthorized data manipulation. With digital data volumes continuing to grow exponentially, decentralized cloud storage emerges as a promising alternative and future-proof solution to better offer greater user autonomy, cost-efficiency, and scalability for various applications. Unlike conventional cloud storage systems that rely on centralized servers vulnerable to data breaches, outages, and censorship, this approach offers a distributed, peer-to-peer network that ensures higher availability, resiliency, and user control. By utilizing content-based addressing and eliminating data duplication, IPFS efficiently allows data storage and retrieval, whereas blockchain provides a secure and transparent environment for access management, transaction recording, and trust through the use of smart contracts. Not only does this synergy give solutions to the critical issues of data privacy and integrity, but it also brings about new and exciting possibilities for autonomous data governance, incentivized storage networks, and reduced reliance on third-party intermediaries. Moreover, this model empowers scalable, tamper-proof storage solutions best for industries ranging from healthcare, finance, supply chain, and IoT. As further technological adoption of decentralized solutions occurs and more organizations desire secure and cost-effective alternatives, decentralized cloud storage is set to become a core component of the next generation internet, amplifying an open, fair, and secure digital ecosystem. Enhanced Security and Privacy: Decentralization eliminates single points of failure and reduces vulnerability to hacking and unauthorized access. Improved Data Availability: Data is stored in multiple nodes in the IPFS peer-to-peer network to ensure redundancy for continuous availability in cases of some nodes going down. Data Integrity and Transparency: Blockchain provides an immutable ledger mechanism for tracking ownership and history of access and file modification for data authenticity and building trust. Censorship Resistance: The decentralized nature of IPFS and blockchain makes it extremely difficult for any single entity to censor or control access to stored data.
User Empowerment: Users retain full control over their data, deciding who can access it, when, and under what conditions—without needing a centralized authority.
Efficient Storage Mechanism: IPFS eliminates duplicate files and improves bandwidth efficiency by referencing files using content-based addressing.
Automation via Smart Contracts: Blockchain smart contracts can automate data access control, payments, and other logic-driven actions without third-party intermediaries. Cost Reduction: Decentralized networks can lower storage costs by using unused storage space from multiple contributors, avoiding infrastructure costs of centralized providers. Scalability and Flexibility: The system can scale horizontally by simply adding more nodes to the network, suitable for both small and large-scale applications.
Future-Ready Architecture: As demand for secure, private, and resilient data solutions grows, decentralized cloud storage is well-positioned to be a critical component of Web3 and the future internet. To sum up, decentralized cloud storage powered by IPFS and blockchain stands as a revolutionary paradigm shift in the domain of data management and digital infrastructure. It offers a compelling alternative to centralized storage solutions by decentralizing control, enhancing data resilience, and eliminating the risks associated with centralized failure points. IPFS’s content-addressable storage system enables fast, efficient, and distributed file access, while blockchain introduces a layer of trust, immutability, and programmable logic through smart contracts. This fusion not only provides robust mechanisms for secure data sharing and ownership verification but also allows the creation of self- regulating systems where users can define and enforce access rights autonomously. Moreover, the model fosters a more democratic and inclusive ecosystem by enabling global participation in storage provisioning, incentivized through tokenized reward systems. This architecture significantly reduces operational costs, mitigates censorship, and protects against data tampering, making it ideal for industries with sensitive data such as healthcare, finance, legal services, education, and supply chains. As society increasingly values privacy, transparency, and control over digital assets, decentralized cloud storage solutions are likely to become essential components of the emerging Web3 infrastructure. They future-proof data systems and lay the foundation for a more secure, efficient, and fairer digital world.
References
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How to Cite This Paper
Dhanush BK, Shashanth SV, Charan Gowda GR, Yogesh CC, Rakshitha P (2025). Secure Decentralized Cloud Storage Using IPFS and Blockchain. International Journal of Computer Techniques, 12(6). ISSN: 2394-2231.
