Leveraging backup process metadata for cloud object storage selective deletions

Abstract

A method and system for leveraging backup process metadata for cloud object storage selective deletions. Under cloud object storage architecture, any unstructured data may be managed and stored in the cloud as objects. Objects thus provide an elastic, scalable format through which unstructured data may be maintained for a variety of purposes, including those directed to data backup, archiving, and/or disaster recovery. Further, any unstructured data, stored within any object, may pertain to one or many file(s). Should data, from multiple files, be stored within a shared object, any post-upload activity (e.g., modifications or deletions in keeping with data regulatory compliances) targeting said data, belonging to any one file or a subset of files, may be complex and resource-expensive. In addressing these undesirable qualities, embodiments disclosed herein use metadata, produced during and/or following backup processes protecting file data, to fulfill said post-upload activity resource-efficiently and without data compromising effects.