Cryptographic erasure of selected encrypted data

• US 8,918,651 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Greco, Paul Merrill, Jaquette, Glen Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nalven, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALINOWSKI, WALTER J
• Application Number:
  US13/471,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20130305057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• US Class Current: 713/189
• 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 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0652 Erasing, e.g. deleting, data cleaning, moving of data to a wastebasket

Abstract

Exemplary method, system, and computer program product embodiments for cryptographic erasure of selected encrypted data are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, data files are configured with a derived key. The derived keys adapted to be individually shredded in a subsequent erasure operation. The derived key allows for cryptographic erasure of the selected encrypted data in the data files without necessitating at least one of removal and rewrite of retained data. Additional system and computer program product embodiments are disclosed and provide related advantages.

Claims

1. A method for cryptographic erasure of selected encrypted data by a processor device in a computing environment, the method comprising:

encrypting data files with a plurality of derived keys, wherein;

each derived key comprises both a shred key for deleting the data files and a served key for encrypting the data files, and

the plurality of derived keys are adapted to be individually shredded in a subsequent erasure operation;

placing the plurality of derived keys in a key store data set (KSDS);

encrypting the KSDS with a different key than any of the plurality of derived keys;

providing a label for each of the shred key and the served key in the KSDS;

shredding the label, the shred key, and the served key, wherein failure to shred the shred key and the served key does not prohibit the shredding; and

rewriting the KSDS without the deleted label, the shred key, and the served key.

2. The method of claim 1, further including preventing an external reading of the plurality of derived keys by overwriting the plurality of derived keys in the KSDS.

3. The method of claim 1, further including, in conjunction with the placing the plurality of derived keys in the KSDS, using a pointer to associate the selected encrypted data with the KSDS.

4. The method of claim 1, further including performing the cryptographically erasing of the selected encrypted data in the data files via a plurality of applications, wherein the performing occurs in a plurality of data tape technology and sequentially written storage devices.

5. A system for cryptographic erasure of selected encrypted data in a computing environment, comprising:

at least one tape drive; and

at least one processor device connected to the at least one tape drive operable in the computing environment, wherein the at least one processor device is adapted for;

encrypting data files with a plurality of derived keys, wherein;

each derived key comprises both a shred key for deleting the data files and a served key for encrypting the data files, and

the plurality of derived keys are adapted to be individually shredded in a subsequent erasure operation,

placing the plurality of derived keys in a key store data set (KSDS),

encrypting the KSDS with a different key than any of the plurality of derived keys,

providing a label for each of the shred key and the served key in the KSDS,

shredding the label, the shred key, and the served key, wherein failure to shred the shred key and the served key does not prohibit the shredding, and

rewriting the KSDS without the deleted label, the shred key, and the served key.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor device is further adapted for preventing an external reading of the plurality of derived keys by overwriting the plurality of derived keys in the KSDS.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor device is further adapted for, in conjunction with the placing the plurality of derived keys in a key store data set (KSDS), using a pointer to associate the selected encrypted data with the KSDS.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor device is further adapted for performing the cryptographically erasing of the selected encrypted data in the data files via a plurality of applications, wherein the performing occurs in a plurality of data tape technology and sequentially written storage devices.

9. A computer program product for cryptographic erasure of selected encrypted data in a computing environment by a processor device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

computer code for encrypting data files with a plurality of derived keys, wherein;

each derived key comprises both a shred key for deleting the data files and a served key for encrypting the data files, and

the plurality of derived keys are adapted to be individually shredded in a subsequent erasure operation;

computer code for placing the plurality of derived keys in a key store data set (KSDS);

computer code for encrypting the KSDS with a different key than any of the plurality of derived keys;

computer code providing a label for each of the shred key and the served key in the KSDS;

computer code shredding the label the shred key and the served key, wherein failure to shred the shred key and the served key does not prohibit the shredding; and

computer code rewriting the KSDS without the deleted label, the shred key and the served key.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further including computer code for preventing an external reading of the plurality of derived keys by overwriting the plurality of derived keys in the KSDS.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, further including computer code for, in conjunction with the placing the plurality of derived keys in the KSDS, using a pointer to associate the selected encrypted data with the KSDS.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, further including computer code for performing the cryptographically erasing of the selected encrypted data in the data files via a plurality of applications, wherein the performing occurs in a plurality of data tape technology and sequentially written storage devices.