System for automatically shadowing encrypted data and file directory structures for a plurality of network-connected computers using a network-attached memory with single instance storage

Abstract

The Secure Networked Data Shadowing System is connected to a plurality of monitored computer systems via an existing communication medium to store the shadowed data. The data is encrypted by the monitored computer system using a cryptokey, and the data file is processed using a hash function prior to encryption, so the contents of this file are uniquely identified. Thus, the encrypted file is stored in its encrypted form and the hash index is used to identify the encrypted file. A “data de-duplication” process avoids storing multiple copies of the same files by identifying instances of duplication via the hash index. Files that have the same hash index can be reduced to a single copy without any loss of data as long as the file structure information for each instance of the file is maintained.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a utility filing which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 863,665, titled “Data Backup Systems And Methods” and filed on 31 Oct. 2006. This application is also related to the following U.S. Patent Applications filed on the same date as the present application: System For Automatically Shadowing Data And File Directory Structures That Are Recorded On A Computer Memory; System For Automatically Recovering A Computer Memory Using Shadowed Data And File Directory Structures; and System For Automatically Shadowing Data And File Directory Structures For A Plurality Of Network Connected-Computers Using A Network-Attached Memory With Single Instance Storage.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to systems that are used to provide data backup for individual computer systems.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is a problem both to safeguard data that is stored on a computer system and to restore ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]In addition, the file changes, creations, relocations, and deletions are tracked through time, with the Secure Networked Data Shadowing System enabling point-in-time restoration of individual files as well as file systems on any of the monitored computer systems, including monitored c

Problems solved by technology

It is a problem both to safeguard data that is stored on a computer system and to restore all or portions of this data that are lost or corrupted.

Many computer systems have no protection systems in place and the loss of data from these computer systems is irrevocable.

However, the use of these existing data backup systems is laborious and can be confusing to the casual user.

Furthermore, in the instance of network connected computer systems, the use of a common shared data backup system wastes a significant amount of memory by storing multiple copies of the same data and raises the issue of security of the data that is stored on the shared data backup system.

Presently, there does not exist a shared data backup system that properly addresses these issues.

Backups are typically that last line of defense against data loss, and consequently the least granular and the least convenient to use.

Organizing this storage space and managing the backup process is a complicated undertaking.

This is the easiest backup method to implement, but probably the least likely to achieve a high level

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