Abstract: A method performed in a device is provided. The method includes (a) receiving key identification information from a key controller module on an external host, (b) obtaining a key identified by the key identification information from an external key server, (c) decrypting encrypted data from an encrypted storage system using the key, and (d) processing the decrypted data. A corresponding computer program product is also provided.

Abstract: A host in an encrypted data storage system sends encryption metadata associated with an encrypted logical volume (LV) from a key controller module to an encryption endpoint via a storage I/O stack. The encryption metadata identifies an encryption key and encrypted regions of the LV, and the sending results in establishment of one or more shared associations between the key controller module and the encryption endpoint which associates the encrypted LV with the encryption metadata for the encrypted LV. A data storage operation is performed on the encrypted LV by sending a data storage command from the key controller module to an encrypted region of the encryption endpoint via the storage I/O stack. The encryption endpoint uses the encryption metadata associated with the encrypted LV to cryptographically process data of the data storage operation.