The utilization of mobile learning continues to rise and has attracted many organizations, university environments and institutions of higher education all over the world. The cloud storage system consists of several defense issues since data security and privacy have become known as the foremost apprehension for the users. Uploading and storing specific data in the cloud is familiar and widespread, but securing the data is a complicated task. This paper proposes a cloud-based mobile learning system using a hybrid optimal elliptic curve cryptography (HOECC) algorithm comprising public and private keys for data encryption. The proposed approach utilizes an adaptive tunicate slime-mold (ATS) algorithm to generate optimal key value. Thus, the data uploaded in the cloud system are secured with high authentication, data integrity and confidentiality. The study investigation employed a survey consisting of 50 students and the questionnaire was sent to all fifty students. In addition to this, for obtaining secure data transmission in the cloud, various performance measures, namely the encryption time, decryption time and uploading/downloading time were evaluated. The results reveal that the time of both encryption and decryption is less in ATF approach when compared with other techniques.