Patent ID: 7908489

Claim:
A method for enabling access by a second storage system to encrypted data encrypted by a first storage system, the method comprising: processing input/output (I/O) requests and data from a plurality of host computers by said first storage system; receiving by said first storage system write data from one of the host computers; encrypting the write data by the first storage system and storing the encrypted write data as at least part of encrypted data in an external storage system; storing encryption information in said first storage system that corresponds to the encrypted data stored in the external storage system; transferring said encryption information from said first storage system to said second storage system; connecting the second storage system for communication with said host computer and said external storage system; and storing said encryption information in said second storage system to enable said second storage system, in response to a request received from the host computer, to access the encrypted data stored in said external storage system, decrypt the encrypted data, and return unencrypted data to said host computer.