In a storage system, a server apparatus and a storage apparatus are
provided, while the server apparatus is connected via a LAN to one, or
plural sets of computers so as to accept an access request of file data
issued from the computers, whereas the storage apparatus is connected via
a wide area network to the server apparatus so as to store thereinto the
file data. A communication between the computers and the server apparatus
is carried out by employing a network file protocol, whereas a
communication between the server apparatus and the storage apparatus is
performed by employing a block device protocol. The server apparatus and
the storage apparatus are connected via the respective security
protecting apparatus to the wide area network.