Importance

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Abstract

The secure management of encryption keys is obtained by preventing external access thereto and ensuring that the keys do not leave an encryption unit in their original form. This result is obtained via a facility which (a) generates a unique device encryption key and at least one program encryption key, (b) encrypts the program encryption key using the device encryption key, and (c) stores the result in local memory. Thereafter, responsive to receipt of an indication to encrypt data, the program encryption key is retrieved from memory and is decrypted using the unique device encryption key. The data is then encrypted using the decrypted program encryption key and the encrypted data is stored in a server for distribution to a user who enters a request for the data. When there is a need to transport the latter key to another element, then the program key is encrypted using a symmetrical encryption key that the facility shares with the other element and the result is supplied to that element. The element then decrypts the encrypted program key using its own version of the symmetrical key.

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First Claim