Intelligent storage and recovery of backup data using multiple storage tiers of a cloud-based storage
Described is a system for intelligently storing and recovering backup data using multiple storage tiers of a cloud-based storage. The intelligent storing of backup data may leverage different cost structures associated with various cloud-based storage tiers by efficiently distributing data to more cost effective tiers. The system may also provide a coordinated (e.g. phased) recovery that prioritizes the recovery of certain files so that a user can gain access to such files in a shorter amount of time. The system may also provide enhanced storage and recovery functionality (e.g. via specialized user interface elements) by leveraging placeholder files to offload and recover individual files, and expedite the recovery of individual files during a substantial recovery process.
1. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
identify, by a backup agent, at least a first set of files and a second set of files stored on a computing device as files to backup to a cloud-based storage system, the storage system including at least a first storage tier and a second storage tier, the second storage tier associated with a storage cost less than a storage cost associated with first storage tier;
store, by the backup agent, backups of the first set of files on the first storage tier based on an attribute associated with the first set of files, and backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier based on an attribute associated with the second set of files;
receive a request to recover at least the first set of files and the second set of files to the computing device;
recover, as part of a first recovery phase, the first set of files on the computing device by retrieving the backups of the first set of files from the first storage tier;
determine, during the first recovery phase, whether a user requests expedited recovery of a first file from the second set of files; and
recover, as part of a second recovery phase, the second set of files on the computing device by retrieving the backups of the second set of files from the second storage tier including recovering the first file from the second set of files during the first recovery phase if the user requests expedited recovery of the first file.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:
create, during the first recovery phase, a first placeholder file on the computing device representing the first file from the second set of files, the first placeholder file replaced by the first file upon completion of recovery of the first file, and
wherein the user requests expedited recovery of the first file on a user interface of the computing device by selecting an individual file recovery user interface element associated with the first placeholder file.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:
offload storage of a second file from the second set of files to the storage system by deleting the second file from the computing device, in response to storing the backup of the second file on the second storage tier.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the offloading storage of the second file from the second set of files to the storage system includes:
replacing the second file stored on the computing device with a second placeholder file including a file extension indicating the second file is stored on the second tier storage.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the offloading storage of the second file to the storage system is initiated in response to a user selecting an offloading user interface element associated with the second file.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein storing the backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier includes:
initially storing the backups of the second set of files on the first storage tier;
determining a presence of a parameter associated with the second set of files; and
subsequently storing the backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier, in response to determining the presence of the parameter.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the parameter includes at least one of an amount of time the second set of files have been stored on the first storage tier, and a file type associated with the second set of files.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the attributes associated with the first set of files indicates the first set of files are associated with one or more file types included in a predefined list of file types, and the attributes associated with the second set of files indicates the second set of files are associated with one or more file types not included in the predefined list of file types.
9. A method comprising:
identifying, by a backup agent, at least a first set of files and a second set of files stored on a computing device as files to backup to a cloud-based storage system, the storage system including at least a first storage tier and a second storage tier, the second storage tier associated with a storage cost less than a storage cost associated with first storage tier;
storing, by the backup agent, backups of the first set of files on the first storage tier based on an attribute associated with the first set of files, and backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier based on an attribute associated with the second set of files;
receiving a request to recover at least the first set of files and the second set of files to the computing device;
recovering, as part of a first recovery phase, the first set of files on the computing device by retrieving the backups of the first set of files from the first storage tier;
determining, during the first recovery phase, whether a user requests expedited recovery of a first file from the second set of files; and
recovering, as part of a second recovery phase, the second set of files on the computing device by retrieving the backups of the second set of files from the second storage tier including recovering the first file from the second set of files during the first recovery phase if the user requests expedited recovery of the first file.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
creating, during the first recovery phase, a first placeholder file on the computing device representing the first file from the second set of files, the first placeholder file replaced by the first file upon completion of recovery of the first file, and
wherein the user requests expedited recovery of the first file on a user interface of the computing device by selecting an individual file recovery user interface element associated with the first placeholder file.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
offloading storage of a second file from the second set of files to the storage system by deleting the second file from the computing device, in response to storing the backup of the second file on the second storage tier.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the offloading storage of the second file from the second set of files to the storage system includes:
replacing the second file stored on the computing device with a second placeholder file including a file extension indicating the second file is stored on the second tier storage.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the offloading storage of the second file to the storage system is initiated in response to a user selecting an offloading user interface element associated with the second file.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein storing the backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier includes:
initially storing the backups of the second set of files on the first storage tier;
determining a presence of a parameter associated with the second set of files, the parameter including at least one of an amount of time the second set of files have been stored on the first storage tier, and a file type associated with the second set of files; and
subsequently storing the backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier, in response to determining the presence of the parameter.
15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein to be executed by one or more processors, the program code including instructions to:
identify, by a backup agent, at least a first set of files and a second set of files stored on a computing device as files to backup to a cloud-based storage system, the storage system including at least a first storage tier and a second storage tier, the second storage tier associated with a storage cost less than a storage cost associated with first storage tier;
store, by the backup agent, backups of the first set of files on the first storage tier based on an attribute associated with the first set of files, and backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier based on an attribute associated with the second set of files;
receive a request to recover at least the first set of files and the second set of files to the computing device;
recover, as part of a first recovery phase, the first set of files on the computing device by retrieving the backups of the first set of files from the first storage tier;
determine, during the first recovery phase, whether a user requests expedited recovery of a first file from the second set of files; and
recover, as part of a second recovery phase, the second set of files on the computing device by retrieving the backups of the second set of files from the second storage tier including recovering the first file from the second set of files during the first recovery phase if the user requests expedited recovery of the first file.
16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the program code includes further instructions to:
create, during the first recovery phase, a first placeholder file on the computing device representing the first file from the second set of files, the first placeholder file replaced by the first file upon completion of recovery of the first file, and
wherein the user requests expedited recovery of the first file on a user interface of the computing device by selecting an individual file recovery user interface element associated with the first placeholder file.
17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the program code includes further instructions to:
offload storage of a second file from the second set of files to the storage system by deleting the second file from the computing device, in response to storing the backup of the second file on the second storage tier.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the offloading storage of the second file from the second set of files to the storage system includes:
replacing the second file stored on the computing device with a second placeholder file including a file extension indicating the second file is stored on the second tier storage.
19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the offloading storage of the second file to the storage system is initiated in response to a user selecting an offloading user interface element associated with the second file.
20. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein storing the backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier includes:
initially storing the backups of the second set of files on the first storage tier;
determining a presence of a parameter associated with the second set of files, the parameter including at least one of an amount of time the second set of files have been stored on the first storage tier, and a file type associated with the second set of files; and
subsequently storing the backups of the second set of files on the second storage tier, in response to determining the presence of the parameter.