Enhancing Data Protection in Healthcare Information Systems Using Cryptographic Algorithm with Base64 512 Bits
| dc.contributor.author | Muthaura, Agnes Kairuthi | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-07T08:24:04Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-07T08:24:04Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-10 | |
| dc.description | A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement of Award of the Degree of Master in Science Computer Science in School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta, University October 2024. Supervisor John Kandiri | |
| dc.description.abstract | To avoid information leakage in healthcare information systems, patient data which is very confidential must be protected at the application level and at the data level as leakage of this information leads to serious medical legal issues. As the number of medical records stored electronically increase, enhancement of how this data is secured must be considered. Cryptographic algorithms are the most preferred data protection techniques for protection of sensitive and critical data such as health care data at the data level. Criminal assaults in social insurance have exponentially increased and are now the leading cause of medical data breaches. About all healthcare organizations have encountered no less than one data breach, costing million dollars on average per healthcare organization. In this study, design science research methodology was used to design and develop a cryptographic algorithm with Base64 512 bits to enhance health care data protection at the data level. The developed algorithm was tested and piloted in a healthcare facility through experiments and simulations by Senior Database Administrators, Senior Security Officers and System Administrators. The source of data for this study was obtained from secondary sources which involved collection of data from extensive literature review on the existing cryptographic algorithms. Analysis of the existing cryptographic algorithms were evaluated in depth and a criterion was obtained that determined how the most preferable cryptography algorithm would be improved to enhance data protection. The security parameters identified from the existing cryptographic algorithms were further classified and used as the inputs for the study. The outcomes of the developed cryptographic algorithm were interacted several times until the desired results were obtained. The performance of the developed cryptographic algorithm was evaluated for security measures such as brute force attack, known plain text vulnerability, database performance and use of private key. The results of the observations showed that the developed cryptographic algorithm with Base64, AES with fixed length of 512 bits achieved optimal performance on brute force attack, known plain text vulnerability and database performance. Thus, the addition layer of Advanced Encryption Standard with a fixed key length of 512 bits on the developed cryptographic algorithm enhanced on the data protection at the data level. In conclusion, to ensure improved data protection in healthcare information systems cryptographic algorithms at the data level should ensure proper encryption and decryption of data and appropriate access control. The cryptographic algorithms must meet the mandatory security features such as low Known plain text vulnerability, use of private key, strength on brute force attack and ease of decryption and encryption. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/29537 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.title | Enhancing Data Protection in Healthcare Information Systems Using Cryptographic Algorithm with Base64 512 Bits | |
| dc.type | Thesis |