Patent attributes
A system and method for signature based data container recognition is provided. When a new data container, such as a lun, is created, a security appliance generates a signature of the data container, by, e.g., examining the contents of one or more data blocks of the data container. The generated signature is then associated with the appropriate encryption key for the data container and is stored either within a configuration database of the security appliance or on a key management system operating within a security appliance environment. To identify the encryption key associated with a data container, the security appliance generates a signature of the data container and compares the generated signature with the stored signatures. Should there be a matching signature, the security appliance utilizes the encryption key associated with the matching signature to process data access requests to/from the data container.