Secure data parser method and system

• US 8,769,699 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Security First Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Security First Corp
• Inventors: Orsini, Rick L., O'Hare, Mark S., Davenport, Roger S., Winick, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): LEMMA, SAMSON B
• Application Number:
  US13/468,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20120222134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 713/153, 713/168, 726 26- 28, 380/28, 380/277
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1092 Rebuilding, e.g. when physically replacing a failing disk
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/085 Secret sharing or secret splitting, e.g. threshold schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823

Abstract

A secure data parser is provided that may be integrated into any suitable system for securely storing and communicating data. The secure data parser parses data and then splits the data into multiple portions that are stored or communicated distinctly. Encryption of the original data, the portions of data, or both may be employed for additional security. The secure data parser may be used to protect data in motion by splitting original data into portions of data that may be communicated using multiple communications paths.

Claims

1. A method of managing access to data, the method comprising:

associating, by processing circuitry, a group of users with a volume comprising a plurality of shares stored on a plurality of physical storage devices in a secure data storage network, wherein the volume and the group of users are associated with a workgroup key for providing access to the volume; and

upon determining a user of a client device is a member of the group of users, providing to the user access to the volume.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the user of the client device is a member of the group of users by assessing user credentials at a secure storage appliance.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving the user credentials at the secure storage appliance from an application on the client device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the workgroup key is stored on a remote key server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the group of users with the volume occurs on a secure storage appliance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing access to the workgroup key to members of the group of users using a secure storage appliance.

7. The method claim 1, wherein the plurality of shares comprise a plurality of secondary data blocks, and wherein the plurality of secondary data blocks are generated by performing a cryptographic operation on a data set and distributing the data set in the secondary data blocks.

8. A secure storage appliance comprising:

a programmable circuit configured to execute program instructions which, when executed, cause the secure storage appliance to;

associate a group of users with a volume comprising a plurality of shares stored on a plurality of physical storage devices in a secure data network, wherein the volume and the group of users are associated with a workgroup key for providing access to the volume; and

upon determining a user of a client device is a member of the group of users, provide to the user access to the volume.

9. The secure storage appliance of claim 8, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to determine whether the user of the client device is a member of the group of users by assessing user credentials.

10. The secure storage appliance of claim 9, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to receive the user credentials from an application on the client device.

11. The secure storage appliance of claim 8, wherein the workgroup key is stored on a key server separate from the secure storage appliance.

12. The secure storage appliance of claim 8, wherein the plurality of shares comprise a plurality of secondary data blocks, and wherein the plurality of secondary data blocks are generated by performing a cryptographic operation on a data set and distributing the data set in the secondary data blocks.

13. A secure data storage network comprising:

a plurality of physical storage devices; and

a secure storage appliance connected to a client device and the plurality of physical storage devices, the secure storage appliance including a programmable circuit configured to execute program instructions which, when executed, cause the secure storage appliance to;

associate a group of users with a volume comprising a plurality of shares stored on the plurality of physical storage devices, wherein the volume and the group of users are associated with a workgroup key for providing access to the volume; and

upon determining a user of the client device is a member of the group of users, provide to the user access to the volume.

14. The secure data storage network of claim 13, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to determine whether the user of the client device is a member of the group of users by assessing user credentials.

15. The secure data storage network of claim 14, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to receive the user credentials from an application on the client device.

16. The secure data storage network of claim 13, wherein the workgroup key is stored on a key server separate from the secure storage appliance.

17. The secure data storage network of claim 13, wherein the plurality of shares comprise a plurality of secondary data blocks, and wherein the plurality of secondary data blocks are generated by performing a cryptographic operation on a data set and distributing the data set in the secondary data blocks.