DeepSec 2022 Talk: End-to-end Health Data Privacy Using Secure 5G Data Channels – Dr. Razvan Bocu
The integrated collection of personal health data represents a relevant research topic, which is enhanced further by the development of next generation mobile networks that can be used in order to transport the gained medical data. The gathering of personal health data has become recently workable using relevant wearable personal devices. Nevertheless, these devices do not possess sufficient computational power, and do not offer proper local data storage capabilities. This paper presents an integrated personal health metrics data management system, which considers a virtualized symmetric 5G data transportation system. The personal health data is gained using a client application component, which is normally deployed on the user’s mobile device, regardless if it is a smartphone, smartwatch, or another kind of personal mobile device. The collected data is securely transported to the cloud data processing components, using a virtualized 5G infrastructure and homomorphically encrypted data packages. The system has been comprehensively assessed through the consideration of a real-world use case, which is presented.
We asked Dr. Razvan Bocu a few more questions about his talk.
Please tell us the top 5 facts about your talk.
The talk essentially addresses several scientific topics, which may be perceived as interesting even by non-specialist audiences. It discusses the problematic of encrypted data processing, which allows for fully private data processing algorithmic routines to be implemented directly over encrypted data stores. Moreover, the naturally complex aspects that pertain to the logical configuration of 5G data networks are presented and, in this context, the fundamental aspects of network functions virtualization (NFV) are discussed. Furthermore, the talk shall describe a fully functional personal health management system, which gains the medical data from the enrolled patients using wearable devices. The collected data is transmitted to the cloud-based data processing and storage components using properly secured data channels that consider homomorphic encryption and secured 5G data channels. It is also relevant to mention that the system is fully assessed through a comprehensive field trial that considers 750 residents of Brasov, Romania. The performance assessment considers the logically defined 5G data channels and the efficiency of the inherently computationally expensive homomorphic encryption routines.
How did you come up with it? Was there something like an initial spark that set your mind on creating this talk?
As an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania, I have initially come up with the idea of full data privacy using homomorphic encryption in the realm of an industry-related research project. I was asked by the Romanian branch of a major multinational IT company to design a distributed health data management system, which provides an end-to-end data privacy mechanism. In short, this means that the data is only decrypted on the mobile device of the enrolled patient. The consideration of the virtualized wireless network function (VWNF) followed naturally considering the mandatory efficient implementation of the 5G data channels, which the system considers.
Why do you think this is an important topic?
The direct processing of the data using homomorphic encryption routines is extraordinarily important, as it has the potential to provide all the necessary algorithmic and programmatic tools for implementing applications that meet and exceed the specifications of current and, possibly, future data processing legal frameworks. Additionally, the implementation of virtualized wireless networks seems to offer the most efficient solution for the design and implementation of 5G networked structures, but this is still an insufficiently explored subject. These are the milestones that make up the backbone of this presentation, which are further enriched by many other algorithmic, and effective technical implementation details.
Is there something you want everybody to know – some good advice for our readers maybe?
The presentation shall be accessible to any audiences with, at least, basic computer science knowledge that pertains to encryption systems, networking architectures and protocols. If possible, any prior study concerning the basic idea of homomorphic encryption would ease the understanding of the talk, but this should not be mandatory, as all the necessary prerequisites will be provided during the presentation.
A prediction for the future – what do you think will be the next innovations or future downfalls when it comes to your field of expertise / the topic of your talk in particular?
The systematic study of homomorphic encryption systems has been going on for thirteen years. Therefore, there is enough room for improvement, which may allow interested researchers to propose interesting scientific contributions in the future. This is certainly good news for scientific researchers and practitioners in relevant computer science fields, and also related fields. The intelligent design of complex and large 5G networked infrastructures is essential for the future “always connected world”, which should be built on the utilization of myriad energy efficient devices that would require data connections on the go. This very possible future reality poses numerous technical difficulties that should be addressed. This talk will outline relevant conceptual and implementation details for the core conceptual invariants that relate to the approached scientific problems.
Razvan Bocu Transilvania University of Brasov. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Brasov 500091, Romania (razvan.bocu@unitbv.ro). Dr. Bocu is a Research and Teaching Staff Member in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania. He received a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Transilvania University of Brasov in 2005, a B.S. degree in Sociology from Transilvania University of Brasov in 2007, an M.S. degree in Computer Science from the Transilvania University of Brasov in 2006, and a Ph.D. degree from the National University of Ireland, Cork, in 2010. He is the author or coauthor of 42 technical papers, together with eight books and book chapters. Dr. Bocu is an editorial reviewing board member for the following technical journals in the field of Information Technology and Biotechnology: Journal of Network and Computer Applications, IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing, IEEE Access, International Journal of Computers Communications & Control, Sensors, Symmetry, Algorithms, Big Data and Cognitive Computing, and several other ones.