Virtual Identity Approaches Evaluation for Anonymous Communication in Cloud Environments

Abstract

Since the era of Cloud computing beginning, the Identity Management is considered as a permanent challenge especially for the hybrid IT environments that permit for many users' applications to share the same data center depending on servers' virtualization. This paper introduces a complete study about Identity forms in different domains and applications. Also, a performance evaluation of new approaches for Virtual Identity was done. Virtual Identity, a new terminology used in virtual environments, was introduced to enhance the anonymous communication in such types of complex networks. Based on the work analysis and motivations done through an online survey, two techniques were used to implement the Virtual Identity; Identity Based Encryption (IBE) and Pseudonym Based Encryption (PBE). Both techniques were validated using MIRACL library for security algorithms. In addition, the performance of both approaches was evaluated under different configurations and network conditions through OPNET Modeler. The results showed the impact of the number of cloud users and their locations (either local or remote) on the application response time in cloud environments using the proposed virtual identities. Moreover, Application Characterization Environment whiteboard was used to simulate the overall flow of data across different tiers from start to end of the application task for Virtual Identity creation. The results and outcomes for both methodologies showed that they are suitable paradigm for achieving high degree of security and efficiency in such sophisticated network access to many online services and applications.