Systems and methods for cryptographically splitting and storing data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9294444-B2
Application number	US-201213371363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2012
Priority date	Oct 25, 2004
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for securing a data set, the method steps implemented by a programmed computer system, the method steps comprising:
encrypting, using a hardware processor, the data set based on an encryption key to produce an encrypted data set;
creating hash information based on a hash operation using the data set;
generating data splitting information, wherein the data splitting information is usable to determine into which of a plurality of shares of data a unit of data of the encrypted data set will be placed;
separating the encrypted data set into the plurality of shares based on the data splitting information, wherein each share contains one or more, but not all, of the units of data of the encrypted data set, and wherein at least two of the plurality of shares contain different amounts of the encrypted data set;
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encryption key and the hash information; and
causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations;
wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a deterministic technique.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a substantially random technique.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing a plurality of data units in each of the shares to be rearranged relative to one another after the separating step.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data into the plurality of shares comprises causing the plurality of shares to have a substantially randomly distribution of the encrypted data set.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data indicative of the encryption key comprises data created using a Shamir secret sharing algorithm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of including data indicative of the encryption key comprises:
encrypting the encryption key with a second key; and
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encrypted encryption key.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the method step of storing the second key outside of the plurality of shares, wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares, and the second key.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separate storage locations are located on at least two separate storage devices.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to carry out a method for securing a data set, the method comprising the steps of:
encrypting the data set based on an encryption key to produce an encrypted data set;
creating hash information based on a hash operation using the data set;
generating data splitting information, wherein the data splitting information is usable to determine into which of a plurality of shares of data a unit of data of the encrypted data set will be placed;
separating the encrypted data set into the plurality of shares based on the data splitting information, wherein each share contains one or more, but not all, of the units of data of the encrypted data set, and wherein at least two of the plurality of shares contain different amounts of the encrypted data set;
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encryption key and the hash information; and
causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations;
wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a deterministic technique.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a substantially random technique.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises causing a plurality of data units of the encrypted data set to be rearranged relative to one another after the separating step.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data into the plurality of shares comprises causing the plurality of shares to have a substantially randomly distribution of the encrypted data set.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the data indicative of the encryption key comprises data created using a Shamir secret sharing algorithm.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the step of including data indicative of the encryption key comprises:
encrypting the encryption key with a second key; and
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encrypted encryption key.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the method further comprises storing the second key outside of the plurality of shares, wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares, and the second key.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the separate storage locations are located on at least two separate storage devices.

19. A computer system for securing a data set, the system comprising:
at least one processor;
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to carry out the following steps:
encrypting the data set based on an encryption key to produce an encrypted data set;
creating hash information based on a hash operation using the data set;
generating data splitting information, wherein the data splitting information is usable to determine into which of a plurality of shares of data a unit of data of the encrypted data set will be placed;
separating the encrypted data set into the plurality of shares based on the data splitting information, wherein each share contains one or more, but not all, of the units of data of the encrypted data set, and wherein at least two of the plurality of shares contain different amounts of the encrypted data set;
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encryption key and the hash information; and
causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations;
wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a deterministic technique.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a substantially random technique.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises causing a plurality of data units of the encrypted data set to be rearranged relative to one another after the separating step.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the step of separating the encrypted data into the plurality of shares comprises causing the plurality of shares to have a substantially randomly distribution of the encrypted data set.

Assignees

• O'Hare Mark S
• Orsini Rick L
• Davenport Roger S
• Winick Steven
• Security First Corp

Inventors

• O'Hare Mark S
• Orsini Rick L
• Davenport Roger S
• Winick Steven

Classifications

• G06F21/606 Primary

  by securing the transmission between two devices or processes · CPC title

• H04L63/0876

  based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint · CPC title

• H04L63/08

  for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32) · CPC title

• G06F21/6218

  to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database · CPC title

• H04L67/108

  characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments · CPC title