International Journal of INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING ISSN:2147-67992147-6799 www.ijisae.org Original Research Paper International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering IJISAE, 2024, 12(15s), 340–355 | 340 Tackling the Challenges of Distributed Data Management in Cloud Computing - A Review of Approaches and Solutions Ali Hikmat Ibrahem 1* , Subhi R. M. Zeebaree 2 Submitted: 12/12/2023 Revised: 23/01/2024 Accepted: 01/02/2024 Abstract: Cloud computing is a contemporary endeavour to provide computing resources, such as hardware or software, as a service across a network. Cloud computing is a current IT trend that involves shifting computation and data storage from desktop and portable PCs to enormous data centre's that can store massive amounts of information, measured in peta-bytes. Cloud Computing encompasses multiple facets, including availability, scalability, virtualization, interoperability, quality of service, and the delivery types of the cloud, which are private, public, and hybrid. Cloud databases are mostly utilized for data-intensive applications, such as data warehousing, data mining, and business intelligence. A cloud database is necessary to efficiently accelerate the process of reducing the burdens associated with routing configuration. This article conducts a thorough analysis of challenges in cloud computing data management, focusing on dimensions such as consistency, scalability, security, interoperability, migration, and latency. Scholarly investigations address distributed databases, consensus algorithms, encryption, access control, auditing, and the development of harmonious ecosystems for diverse cloud environments. Emphasis is placed on automated migration tools, best practices, and methodologies for smooth transitions, as well as innovative solutions for minimizing latency in real-time applications. The overarching goal is to advance data confidentiality, integrity, system security, and long-term advancements in cloud computing. Keywords: Data Management, Storage, cloud computing, challenges, consistency. 1. Introduction The exponential surge in data generation over the past decade has outpaced the capabilities of conventional institutional data management. In response to this challenge, cloud-based data management has emerged as a transformative solution, facilitating efficient scalability of resources. This approach involves institutions renting storage and computing power, alleviating the need for substantial in-house capital investments in infrastructure. Despite the initially touted economic benefits by public cloud providers, the adoption of cloud-based systems has been restrained, with apprehensions revolving around long-term costs, security, control, and legal safeguards for data and services. Cloud computing, as a transformative innovation, encompasses not only technological advancements but also signifies a paradigm shift in the business landscape of computing. Its evolutionary trajectory can be traced from the era of large mainframes through the age of personal computers to the present landscape of compact personal devices. Beyond a mere technological progression, cloud computing introduces a novel approach to Information Technology (IT) provisioning, holding the potential to revolutionize how computing resources and applications are deployed. This innovation disrupts traditional value chains, carving out space for innovative business models [1]. Fig (1): Evolution of computing Architecture. 1 Information Technology Dept., Technical College of Informatics-Akre, Akre University of Applied Science, Duhok, Iraq. ali.hikmat@auas.edu.krd 2 Energy Eng. Dept., Technical College of Engineering, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok, Iraq, subhi.rafeeq@dpu.edu.krd