Virtual tape backup arrangement using cryptographically split storage

A data backup arrangement comprising:

• a virtual tape backup system configured to receive a data image;
• a plurality of physical storage devices;
• and
• a secure storage appliance communicatively connected to the virtual tape backup system and the plurality of physical storage devices, the secure storage appliance configured to:
• receive the contents of the data image from the virtual tape backup system;
• process the contents of the data image at the secure storage appliance to cryptographically split one or more blocks of data of the data image such that each of the one or more blocks of data is split into a plurality of secondary data blocks;
• and
• store the plurality of secondary data blocks in a corresponding plurality of shares located on the plurality of physical storage devices.

A secure storage appliance configured to operate within a data backup arrangement, the secure storage appliance including a programmable circuit configured to execute program instructions which, when executed, configure the secure storage appliance to:

• receive contents of a data image from a virtual tape backup system;
• process the contents of the data image at the secure storage appliance to cryptographically split one or more blocks of data of the data image such that each of the one or more blocks of data is split into a plurality of secondary data blocks;
• and
• store the plurality of secondary data blocks in a corresponding plurality of shares located on a plurality of physical storage devices.