A set of methods are proposed to increase data security, both in motion and at rest, by creating microshard data fragments. Microshard data fragments are subsets of a data file which are smaller than a defined atomic unit of value (e.g. a fraction of the size of a social security number or valuable password that one seeks to protect). These microshard data fragments are then dispersed across several physical locations, obscuring the value. Additional techniques are proposed to further frustrate unauthorized reassembly attempts and to create system efficiencies.