Time optimized secure traceable migration of massive quantities of data in a distributed storage system

A distributed storage system configured for physically moving digital data objects from a source location to at least one target location in a distributed storage system, wherein the digital data objects are stored in accordance with information lifecycle management policies, the distributed storage system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions configured to cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising:
• registering, with a storage grid control system that maintains data object lifecycle management information and storage node information in a distributed storage network, that at least one shuttle storage device is in local communication at a source location;
• duplicating, onto the at least one shuttle storage device, digital data objects in accordance with data object lifecycle management information associated with the digital data objects;
• registering, with the storage grid control system, the presence of the digital data objects duplicated onto the at least one shuttle storage device, wherein registering comprises obtaining verification object metadata that allows validation of the integrity of the digital data objects duplicated onto the at least one shuttle storage device;
• wherein the at least one shuttle storage device is configured to be physically moved from the source location to a target location;
• and
• registering, with the storage grid control system, that the at least one shuttle storage device is in local communication at the target location.