VDCI: Variable data classification index to ensure data protection in cloud computing environments

One of the most considerable concerns in cloud computing environments is ensuring about the security and privacy of stored data in cloud servers. Hence, several data protection tools and techniques have been presented to enhance the reliability in this emerging technology. One of the most challenging issues in this area is classification of stored data to improve the efficiency of data protection procedure and reduce energy consumption by eliminating un-necessary processes. Accordingly, a variable data classification index has been defined and presented in this paper to classify stored data in cloud servers dynamically and increase the efficiency of this process. The suggested index uses three main parameters (Data Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Data Availability) and several sub-parameters to determine the value of this index dynamically according to the specifications of stored data. The proposed classification index was evaluated by functionality and security parameters. In overall, the results show that the suggested index has considerable benefits in the process of data classification in cloud computing environments.