Patent ID: 8423765

Claim:
A method for distributing and monitoring insertion of sensitive data into devices, said method comprising: arranging a controller to be communicably connectable to a server being located remote therefrom, said server configured to be communicably connectable to equipment responsible for inserting said sensitive data into said devices, said controller being configured for distributing said sensitive data to said server to enable said server to provide said sensitive data to said equipment, said controller comprising a secure module for performing cryptographic operations; said controller using said secure module to cryptographically protect said sensitive data; said controller sending a cryptographically protected data transmission comprising said sensitive data to said server to enable said server to extract said sensitive data therefrom; said controller providing a credit value to said server indicative of a number of sensitive data insertions that are permitted before requesting more of said sensitive data from said controller to enable said server to update said credit value according to amounts of said sensitive data provided to said equipment; said controller receiving a log report from said server, said log report pertaining to the insertion of an amount of said sensitive data into respective devices by said equipment upon said equipment obtaining said amount of sensitive data from said server upon request, said log report having been generated from at least one log record obtained by said server from said equipment; and said controller enabling said log report to be compared to a record generated by said controller indicative of distribution of said sensitive data to said server to monitor said insertion of said sensitive data.