Zero-knowledge architecture for secure healthcare data sharing

This thesis provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of blockchain technology and Microsoft Azure services, focusing on their applications in Personal Health Records (PHR) systems. It carefully evaluates the benefits and challenges of each technology in key parts of PHR systems such as user management, document storage, data sharing, activity logging, request processing, notifications and disaster recovery mechanisms. The analysis acknowledges the strengths of blockchain to ensure high security, confidentiality and data integrity of health data. Its decentralized approach is known for its potential to transform the protection of sensitive medical information. However, the thesis identifies significant barriers to the widespread adoption of blockchain in healthcare, including its complexity, limited scalability and high financial requirements. On the other hand, Microsoft Azure services are an excellent choice for PHR systems. The thesis praises Azure's ability to provide scalable and secure storage solutions and its effectiveness in automating complex healthcare workflows. Azure's comprehensive disaster recovery plans are a testament to its reliability and commitment to data protection. While blockchain offers decentralization, Azure's centralized architecture is not a limitation, but a feature that ensures consistent performance, simplified management, and easy compliance. The thesis strongly advocates the implementation of Azure services via blockchain in healthcare settings. It argues that Azure's robust infrastructure, along with advanced security measures and scalability, better meets the operational needs and strategic goals of healthcare organizations. as result for PHR systems that prioritize security, compliance and efficiency, Microsoft Azure stands out as the optimal technology framework.