1. A method of providing data backup, the method comprising: receiving at a virtual tape backup system a data image to be maintained; transmitting the contents of the data image to a secure storage appliance; 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; and storing the plurality of secondary data blocks in a corresponding plurality of shares located on a plurality of physical storage devices.