Distributed storage network and method for storing and retrieving encryption keys

摘要

A method begins by a distributed storage (DS) managing unit receiving an encryption key to store. The method continues by determining an encryption method and encrypting the encryption key with the determined encryption method to produce an encrypted key. The method continues by encoding and slicing the encrypted key to produce a set of data slices; and storing the set of data slices in DSN memory. A method to retrieve the stored encryption key begins with receiving a retrieve encryption key request from a requester and continues with retrieving an encrypted key and then determining a decryption method. The method continues by decrypting the encrypted key with the determined decryption method to produce the encryption key and sending the encryption key to the requestor to decrypt one or more portions of the encrypted data.

主权项

1. A method for processing an encryption key within a portion of a distributed storage network (DSN), the method comprises:
receiving an encryption key to store; determining an encryption method; encrypting the encryption key with the determined encryption method to produce an encrypted key; error encoding the encrypted key; slicing the error encoded encrypted key to produce a set of error encoded data slices; and distributing the set of error encoded data slices across DSN memory.