Patent ID: 8566354

Claim:
A method comprises: error encoding a data segment in accordance with a dispersed storage error coding function to produce a set of encoded data slices, wherein the dispersed storage error coding function allows for loss of some encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices while still allowing the data segment to be recovered from the set of encoded data slices as long as a threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices are retrievable; determining, for security, whether one or more of the encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices are to be required encoded data slices to produce one or more required encoded data slices, wherein the one or more required encoded data slices are required to be retrieved when at least the threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices are retrieved for recovering the data segment; and when the one or more of the encoded data slices are required: generating specific dispersed storage network (DSN) storage information for each of the one or more required encoded data slices; generating general DSN storage information for remaining encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices; and sending the set of encoded data slices to a dispersed storage network in accordance with the specific DSN storage information and the general DSN storage information.