Semi-analytical centroid-based real-time data tiering solution for efficient storage optimization

1 . A method comprising:

collecting values for a plurality of features associated with each file of a plurality of files, the plurality of features comprising an access frequency, a modification time, a sensitivity level, a retention priority, and a file type;

normalizing the values;

calculating, using the normalized values, centroids for the plurality of features for each file;

for each file, comparing a normalized value of a feature associated with a file against a respective centroid calculated for the feature;

based on the comparison, if any normalized value of a respective feature associated with the file falls below the respective centroid calculated for the respective feature, moving the file from a current storage tier having high performance characteristics to a different storage tier having performance characteristics lower than the current storage tier; and

if each normalized value of each respective feature associated with the file is equal to or above the respective centroid calculated for the respective feature, allowing the file to remain in the current storage tier having the high performance characteristics.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the access frequency associated with the file indicates a number of times the file is accessed over a period of time, the modification time associated with the file indicates a time the file was last modified, the sensitivity level associated with the file indicates a degree of confidentiality attached to content of the file, the retention priority associated with the file indicates a duration of time for which the file is to be retained, and the file type associated with the file indicates a format of the file.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein normalizing the values comprises applying a Min-Max normalization.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein normalizing the values comprises converting categorical data of the plurality of features into numerical values.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

installing agents across a plurality of clients to collect the values for the plurality of features associated with the plurality of files, the plurality of files being present across the plurality of clients.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the current storage tier is at a data protection appliance and the different storage tier is at a cloud storage provider, remote from the data protection appliance.

7 . A system comprising: a processor; and memory configured to store one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of:

collecting values for a plurality of features associated with each file of a plurality of files, the plurality of features comprising an access frequency, a modification time, a sensitivity level, a retention priority, and a file type;

normalizing the values;

calculating, using the normalized values, centroids for the plurality of features for each file;

for each file, comparing a normalized value of a feature associated with a file against a respective centroid calculated for the feature;

based on the comparison, if any normalized value of a respective feature associated with the file falls below the respective centroid calculated for the respective feature, moving the file from a current storage tier having high performance characteristics to a different storage tier having performance characteristics lower than the current storage tier; and

if each normalized value of each respective feature associated with the file is equal to or above the respective centroid calculated for the respective feature, allowing the file to remain in the current storage tier having the high performance characteristics.

8 . The system of claim 7 wherein the access frequency associated with the file indicates a number of times the file is accessed over a period of time, the modification time associated with the file indicates a time the file was last modified, the sensitivity level associated with the file indicates a degree of confidentiality attached to content of the file, the retention priority associated with the file indicates a duration of time for which the file is to be retained, and the file type associated with the file indicates a format of the file.

9 . The system of claim 7 wherein normalizing the values comprises applying a Min-Max normalization.

10 . The system of claim 7 wherein normalizing the values comprises converting categorical data of the plurality of features into numerical values.

11 . The system of claim 7 wherein the processor further carries out the step of:

installing agents across a plurality of clients to collect the values for the plurality of features associated with the plurality of files, the plurality of files being present across the plurality of clients.

12 . The system of claim 7 wherein the current storage tier is at a data protection appliance and the different storage tier is at a cloud storage provider, remote from the data protection appliance.

13 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed by one or more processors to implement a method comprising:

collecting values for a plurality of features associated with each file of a plurality of files, the plurality of features comprising an access frequency, a modification time, a sensitivity level, a retention priority, and a file type;

normalizing the values;

calculating, using the normalized values, centroids for the plurality of features for each file;

for each file, comparing a normalized value of a feature associated with a file against a respective centroid calculated for the feature;

based on the comparison, if any normalized value of a respective feature associated with the file falls below the respective centroid calculated for the respective feature, moving the file from a current storage tier having high performance characteristics to a different storage tier having performance characteristics lower than the current storage tier; and

if each normalized value of each respective feature associated with the file is equal to or above the respective centroid calculated for the respective feature, allowing the file to remain in the current storage tier having the high performance characteristics.

14 . The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the access frequency associated with the file indicates a number of times the file is accessed over a period of time, the modification time associated with the file indicates a time the file was last modified, the sensitivity level associated with the file indicates a degree of confidentiality attached to content of the file, the retention priority associated with the file indicates a duration of time for which the file is to be retained, and the file type associated with the file indicates a format of the file.

15 . The computer program product of claim 13 wherein normalizing the values comprises applying a Min-Max normalization.

16 . The computer program product of claim 13 wherein normalizing the values comprises converting categorical data of the plurality of features into numerical values.

17 . The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the method further comprises:

installing agents across a plurality of clients to collect the values for the plurality of features associated with the plurality of files, the plurality of files being present across the plurality of clients.

18 . The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the current storage tier is at a data protection appliance and the different storage tier is at a cloud storage provider, remote from the data protection appliance.