Patent ID: 8230235
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for encrypting data on a removable media data cartridge in a data storage library, comprising: establishing at least one cartridge encryption policy, each encryption policy including a level of encryption, an identifier of at least one data cartridge to be associated with the encryption policy, and an identification of an encryption key to be used to encrypt data written to media in the at least one data cartridge; storing the at least one encryption policy in an encryption policy table; storing the encryption key in one of a key server and a key store coupled to the key server; receiving a request from a host to access a specified data cartridge stored in a storage cell in the library; selecting and transporting the specified data cartridge from the storage cell to a storage drive; receiving a request from the storage drive for the encryption key in response to the storage drive matching the specified data cartridge with the encryption policy associated with the specified data cartridge; accessing the encryption policy table to select the encryption policy associated with the specified data cartridge; in response to the selected encryption policy, transmitting the encryption key for the specified data cartridge from the key server to the storage drive; and encrypting data in the storage drive in accordance with the obtained encryption key and writing the encrypted data on media in the specified data cartridge.