One embodiment is directed to a method for use in a computer system comprising at least first and second computers, wherein the first provides content addressable storage. A request to access a unit of data stored by the first computer is issued by the second computer and received by the first. In one embodiment, the unit of data comprises a first identifier identifying at least one digital asset and metadata relating to the at least one digital asset, and the request identifies the unit of data via a second identifier based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data. In another embodiment, a request to access a unit of data is sent from a second computer and received at a first computer and identifies the unit of data via a content identifier based, at least in part, on the content of the unit of data. The content identifier is the only identifier that can be used in communication between the first and second computers to identify the unit of data.