Secure storage unit replacement and locking system and method of using the same

A secure storage unit replacement and locking method comprising:

• receiving a request to remove one of a plurality of storage units from an enclosure, wherein each hard disk is configured with a lock to selectively restrict removal of its respective storage unit from the disk enclosure;
• generating a key, wherein the key includes information for identifying the one storage unit to be removed;
• receiving information associated with the key when the key is located at the disk enclosure;
• determining which one of the plurality of storage units are to be unlocked by the key;
• unlocking the one storage unit according to the determination;
• and
• destroying, by the lock, the storage unit when the lock is engaged while the storage unit is removed from the disk enclosure.

A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• receiving a request to remove one of a plurality of storage units from an enclosure, wherein each hard disk is configured with a lock to selectively restrict removal of its respective storage unit from the disk enclosure;
• generating a key, wherein the key includes information for identifying the one storage unit to be removed;
• providing the key to a user, and carrying the key, by the user, to the disk enclosure, wherein the key comprises printable indicia;
• receiving information associated with the key when the key is located at the disk enclosure;
• determining which one of the plurality of storage units are to be unlocked by the key;
• unlocking the one storage unit according to the determination;
• receiving information associated with another storage unit that has been inserted in the disk enclosure;
• determining whether the inserted storage unit is valid;
• locking the inserted storage unit in the disk enclosure only when the inserted storage unit has been determined to be valid;
• and
• destroying, by the lock, the storage unit when the lock is engaged while the storage unit is removed from the disk enclosure.