Ordered deletion of content in storage systems

A computer readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, implement a method of storing an object, the method comprising:

• providing an object, an ordering vector of the object, the ordering vector being associated to a lexicographic order having at least one dimension, and base keys associated to each dimension of the lexicographic order;
• deriving a key by retrieving the base key associated to the first dimension of the lexicographic order for which the ordering vector has a value different from the smallest value, and applying a one-way function a number of times corresponding to the value of the ordering vector for the last dimension of the lexicographic order;
• encrypting the object with the key;
• and
• storing the object as encrypted.

A system, comprising:

• a key management server including a processor and a memory, the key management server configured to:
• provide an object, an ordering vector of the object, the ordering vector being associated to a lexicographic order having at least one dimension, and base keys associated to each dimension of the lexicographic order;
• derive a key by retrieving the base key associated to the first dimension of the lexicographic order for which the ordering vector has a value different from the smallest value, and applying a one-way function a number of times corresponding to the value of the ordering vector for the last dimension of the lexicographic order;
• encrypt the object with the key;
• and
• store the object as encrypted.