Secure storage network and methods for use therewith

A processing unit for use in a storage network having a plurality of storage units, the processing unit comprising:

• an interface;
• memory;
• and
• one or more processors operably coupled to the interface and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are operable to perform operations including:
• encoding a data segment into a set of encoded data slices, wherein a read threshold of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices is required to decode the data segment, wherein the read threshold has a value greater than one, and wherein the data segment has an associated security level;
• selecting a subset of the plurality of storage units based on the security level, wherein the subset includes at least the read threshold of storage units of the plurality of storage units, wherein each of the subset of the plurality of storage units has a connection security approach that corresponds to the security level;
• and
• communicating the set of encoded data slices to the subset of the plurality of storage units in accordance with the connection security approach associated with each of the subset of the plurality of storage units.

A tangible computer readable storage medium for use in a storage network having a plurality of storage units, the tangible computer readable storage medium comprising:

• at least one non-transitory memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of one or more computing devices of a storage network, causes the one or more computing devices to perform operations including:
• encoding a data segment into a set of encoded data slices, wherein a read threshold of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices is required to decode the data segment, wherein the read threshold has a value greater than one, and wherein the data segment has an associated security level;
• selecting a subset of the plurality of storage units based on the security level, wherein the subset includes at least the read threshold of storage units of the plurality of storage units, wherein each of the subset of the plurality of storage units has a connection security approach that corresponds to the security level;
• and
• communicating the set of encoded data slices to the subset of the plurality of storage units in accordance with the connection security approach associated with each of the subset of the plurality of storage units.