Abstract: A method and apparatus for checking the validity of an item of data stored for access by a first data processor of a data processing network having at least two interconnected data processors. The first data processor provides a second data processor with a copy of an item of data and the second data processor determines whether the item of data is valid. The second data processor then reports to the first data processor on the validity of the item of data so that the first data processor can prevent access to any invalid data.