1. A method of reading data, said method operating on at least one computer and comprising the steps of: receiving a read request for a data segment stored on a dispersed data storage network; determining a virtual digital data storage vault to store the data segment based on the read request; determining a vault data structure corresponding to the virtual digital data storage vault; authenticating the read request in accordance with the vault data structure; when the read request is authenticated, assembling a list of slice servers based on the virtual digital data storage vault, wherein each slice server on said list stores at least one data slice associated with said data segment, wherein the data segment was encoded into a plurality of data slices based on an information dispersal algorithm; assigning a preference rating to each of said slice servers contained on said list based on at least one of a slice server's most recent response time, historical response time, and present load; and retrieving, based on said preference rating, a number of data slices required by the information dispersal algorithm to assemble said data segment, wherein the number of data slices is less than the plurality of data slices.