Enhancing Security of Healthcare Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) on the Cloud: Employing a Hybrid Cryptographic Solution

Abstract

The growing use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the healthcare sector underscores the urgent need for effective data management and security measures. Among the primary systems used for medical data management is the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). While PACS provides a robust framework for storing and retrieving medical images, security and data integrity remain significant concerns, particularly in the age of cloud computing. This paper aims to propose a secure algorithm for managing cloud-based PACS following the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards. It explores various PACS attack models, develops a novel vendor-neutral (VNA) architecture, and introduces a hybrid cryptographic scheme integrating linear feedback shift registers (LFSR) with the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The proposed model is then evaluated for security performance, providing potential solutions to persistent security challenges within the healthtech industry.