1. A method comprises: when at least a consensus threshold number of devices are active in a virtual private network (VPN) group of devices: encoding 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 one or more sets of encoded data slices; and sending the one or more sets of encoded data slices to at least one of: the consensus threshold number of devices or a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory for storage therein; and when the at least the 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 creating the group specific data or accessing previously created group specific data.