1. A method comprises: determining whether a consensus threshold number of devices are active in a virtual private network (VPN) group of devices by: verifying user identifiers (IDs) affiliated with the VPN group of devices; verifying a unique user code related to group specific data; and verifying a peer-to-peer communication between the consensus threshold number of devices; when determining at least a consensus threshold number of devices are active in the VPN group of devices: encoding, by a device of the at least the consensus threshold number of devices, a data segment of group specific data based on a consensus threshold number of devices in the VPN group of devices and a number of devices in the VPN group of devices to produce a set of encoded data slices; wherein the consensus threshold number corresponds to a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices required to reconstruct the data segment, and the number of devices in the VPN group corresponds to a total number of encoded data slices in the set of encoded data slices; sending, by the device, a unique encoded data slice of the decode threshold number of encoded data slices to a corresponding device of the consensus threshold number of devices or to a unique storage unit of a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory for storage therein; and when determining at least a consensus threshold number of devices are not active in the VPN group of devices, prohibiting each of the devices in the VPN group of devices from encoding the data segment of group specific data; and when determining at least a consensus threshold number of devices are not active in the VPN group of devices, further prohibiting each of the devices in the VPN group of devices from accessing previously created group specific data.