Abstract: Methods and systems for providing data backup are disclosed. One method includes receiving at a virtual tape backup system a data image to be maintained, and transmitting the contents of the data image to a secure storage appliance. The method also includes processing the contents of the data image with the secure storage appliance to cryptographically split one or more blocks of data of the data image such that each of the one or more blocks of data is split into a plurality of secondary data blocks. The method further includes storing the plurality of secondary data blocks in a corresponding plurality of shares located on a plurality of physical storage devices.