Blockchain-Enabled Secure Management of Scientific Data in Permissioned Networks: a Metadata-Centric Approach

Abstract

In recent years, blockchain has emerged as a promising new technology to manage trusted information, making it easier for companies to access and use critical data while maintaining the security of this information. Permissioned blockchains, unlike permissionless ones, restrict access to a select group of certified entities. They ensure a controlled and secure environment where only authorized participants can join the network and perform operations, a peculiar aspect in sectors where data sensitivity, confidentiality, and limited access are crucial. Tracking operations performed on the data and guaranteeing reproducibility of research through workflow reconstruction upon data processing become very important in different sectors ranging from scientific communities to private companies and health. This is the case of the present activity, where the implementation of a permissioned blockchain system aimed at ensuring data immutability, operations traceability, and the ability to reproduce workflows is presented and discussed. In such regards, we work with Hyperledger Fabric, an enterprise-grade permissioned distributed ledger platform that offers modularity and versatility for a broad set of industry use cases.