Patent ID: 8738935

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for modifying access to data, comprising: under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions: storing data in a volume comprising at least one networked storage node among a plurality of networked storage nodes of a storage system, the volume and the data each being accessible to a customer entity of the one or more computer systems, the customer entity being of a plurality of customer entities within a distributed computing system and implemented by the distributed computing system; encrypting, using a cryptographic key implemented by a cryptographic entity that is at least communicatively connected to the one or more computer systems, at least a subset of the data stored upon the volume, such that the cryptographic key is necessary to decrypt at least the encrypted subset of data; and upon receiving, from the customer entity, a request to render permanently inaccessible the encrypted subset of data, at least: responding to the customer entity with at least an indication that the request has been received; permanently discarding the cryptographic key; and indicating to the customer entity that the encrypted subset of data is permanently inaccessible.