Separate cryptographic keys for protecting different operations on data

1. A computer-implemented method for processing data, comprising:

using a first key to protect a write operation on the data by encrypting, by computer, the data with a data key and generating a signature associated with the data with the first key;

using a second key to protect a read operation on the data by decrypting the data with the data key and verifying the signature associated with the data with the second key;

using a third key to protect a write operation on metadata for the data by encrypting the metadata with a metadata key and generating a signature associated with the metadata with the third key;

using a fourth key to protect a read operation on the metadata by decrypting the metadata with the metadata key and verifying the signature associated with the metadata with the fourth key;

determining an amount of padding by performing a modulo operation on a length of the data with a block size used to encrypt the data and subtracting a result of the modulo operation from the block size; and

appending the determined amount of padding to the encrypted data;

wherein the write operation is protected prior to performing the write operation with a remote storage mechanism; and

wherein the read operation is protected after performing the read operation with the remote storage mechanism.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second keys are associated with at least one of a file, a set of files, and a user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data key is associated with at least one of a block and a file.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein using the first key to protect the write operation further involves: appending an amount of padding in the encrypted data to the encrypted data.

5. A system for processing data, comprising:

a write-management apparatus configured to:

use a first key to protect a write operation on the data by encrypting the data with a data key and generating a signature associated with the data with the first key; and

use a third key to protect a write operation on metadata for the data by encrypting the metadata with a metadata key and generating a signature associated with the metadata with the third key; and

a read-management apparatus configured to:

use a second key to protect a read operation on the data by decrypting the data with the data key and verifying the signature associated with the data with the second key;

use a fourth key to protect a read operation on the metadata by decrypting the metadata with the metadata key and verifying the signature associated with the metadata with the fourth key;

wherein using the first key to protect the write operation further involves:

a determination of an amount of padding via a modulo operation performed on a length of the data with a block size used to encrypt the data and a subtraction of a result of the modulo operation from the block size; and

the determined amount of padding being appended to the encrypted data;

wherein the write operation is protected prior to the write operation being performed with a remote storage mechanism; and

wherein the read operation is protected after the read operation is performed with the remote storage mechanism.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a management apparatus configured to:

provide the first key to the write-management apparatus; and

provide the second key to the read-management apparatus.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for processing data, the method comprising:

using a first key to protect a write operation on the data by encrypting the data with a data key and generating a signature associated with the data with the first key; and

using a second key to protect a read operation on the data by decrypting the data with the data key and verifying the signature associated with the data with the second key;

using a third key to protect a write operation on metadata for the data by encrypting the metadata with a metadata key and generating a signature associated with the metadata with the third key; and

using a fourth key to protect a read operation on the metadata by decrypting the metadata with the metadata key and verifying the signature associated with the metadata with the fourth key;

wherein using the first key to protect the write operation further involves:

determining an amount of padding by performing a modulo operation on a length of the data with a block size used to encrypt the data and subtracting a result of the modulo operation from the block size; and

appending the determined amount of padding to the encrypted data;

wherein the write operation is protected prior to performing the write operation with a remote storage mechanism; and

wherein the read operation is protected after performing the read operation with the remote storage mechanism.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 ,

wherein the first and second keys are associated with at least one of a file, a set of files, and a user, and

wherein the data key is associated with at least one of a block and the file.