System, method, and software for enforcing information retention using uniform retention rules
Methods, systems, and software for enforcing archival of data objects into archive objects and managed destruction of the archive objects are disclosed. In some cases, the computer techniques include enforcing a retention rule, such as a retention date and archive properties, and a destruction indication, such as an expiration date, of data identified for archival. The data objects are archived under hierarchical paths in a long-term storage system according to retention-related properties of the data objects and the retention rules. Further, the archived data can be destroyed according to destruction indications. Once archived, destruction of the data may be prevented by a hold applied to the data.
1. A computer-implemented method performed by one or more processors for enforcing information retention properties, the method comprising:
determining that a data object, satisfies a retention rule to archive business objects, wherein the retention rule specifies a plurality of criteria;
identifying a destruction indication associated with the identified data object, wherein the destruction indication defines when to destroy the data object;
defining a target hierarchical path that references a storage location to store the data object, wherein the target hierarchical path includes each criterion of the plurality of criteria, and wherein the target hierarchical path includes at least one node that references the destruction indication;
archiving the data object into an archive object logically located at the storage location referenced by the target hierarchical path; and
destroying the archive object according to the destruction indication.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying archive properties to the archive object.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein applying archive properties to the archive object comprises propagating the archive properties to a compilation of the archived object.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein propagating the archived properties to the compilation of the archive object comprises applying the archived properties to various nodes of the identified data object for the compilation of the archive object.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein archiving the data object comprises:
transferring the data object from a primary system to a long-term storage system at the storage location referenced by the target hierarchical path; and
deleting the data object from the primary system.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining whether the target hierarchical path exists in a long-term storage system; and
creating the target hierarchical path if the target hierarchical path does not exist in the long-term storage system.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving the plurality of criteria; and
defining the retention rule based on the plurality of criteria.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a residence time that specifies a duration to store the data object in a primary storage system; and
receiving a retention time that specifies a duration to store the data object in a long-term storage system separate from the primary storage system.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
transferring the data object from the primary storage system to the longer-term storage system upon expiry of the residence time; and
destroying the data object upon expiry of the retention time.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically applying a hold property to the archive object that overrides the destruction indication.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising preventing destruction of the second archive object scheduled according to the destruction indication in response to applying the hold property.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an index record for the archive object.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising immutably storing the archive object.
14. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting the data object to an open standard format for the archive object.
15. The computer program product according to claim 1 , the instructions further operable to convert the data object to an open standard format for the archive object.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein defining the target hierarchical path comprises including text included in each criterion of the plurality of criteria in text of the target hierarchical path.
17. A computer program product for enforcing information retention properties, the computer program product comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible, non-transitory media, the instructions executed to:
determine that a data object satisfies a retention rule to archive business objects, wherein the retention rule specifies a plurality of criteria;
identify a destruction indication associated with the data object, wherein the destruction indication defines when to destroy the data object;
define a target hierarchical path that references a storage location to store the data object, wherein the target hierarchical path includes each criterion of the plurality of criteria, and
wherein the target hierarchical path includes at least one node that references the destruction indication;
archive the data object into an archive object logically located at the storage location referenced by the target hierarchical path; and
destroy the archive object according to the destruction indication.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 , the instructions further operable to apply archive properties to the archive object.
19. The computer program product of claim 18 , the instructions further operable to propagate the archived properties to the compilation of the archive object comprises applying the archived properties to various nodes of the data object for the compilation of the archive object.
20. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein archiving the data object comprises:
transferring the data object from a primary system to a long-term storage system at the storage location referenced by the target hierarchical path; and
deleting the data object from the primary system.
21. The computer program product according to claim 17 , the instructions further operable to:
receive the plurality of criteria; and
define the retention rule based on the plurality of criteria.
22. The computer program product of claim 21 , the instructions further operable to:
receive a residence time that specifies a duration to store the data object in a primary storage system; and
receive a retention time that specifies a duration to store the data object in a long-term storage system separate from the primary storage system.
23. The computer program product of claim 22 , the instructions further operable to:
transfer the data object from the primary storage system to the longer-term storage system upon expiry of the residence time; and
destroy the data object upon expiry of the retention time.
24. The computer program product of claim 17 , the instructions further operable to:
automatically apply a hold property to the archive object that overrides the destruction indication; and
prevent destruction of the archive object scheduled according to the destruction indication.
25. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein defining the target hierarchical path comprises including text included in each criterion of the plurality of criteria in text of the target hierarchical path.