A method begins when at least a consensus threshold number of devices are active in a virtual private network (VPN) group of devices. The method continues by 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. The method continues by 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. When the at least the consensus threshold number of devices are not active in the VPN group of devices, each of the devices in the VPN group of devices are prohibited from creating the group specific data or accessing previously created group specific data.