Secondary storage operation instruction tags in information management systems

A method of performing storage management, the method comprising:

• storing at least one storage policy that directs the performance of one or more storage operations on at first and second files;
• storing a plurality of tags wherein at least a first tag is associated with a first file stored in a primary storage subsystem;
• storing a plurality of tag rules in association with the plurality of tags, wherein at least a first tag rule is associated with the first tag;
• determine with at storage manager comprising one or more computer processors, that the first file is associated with the first tag;
• electronically accessing at least the first tag rule associated with the first tag and comparing the first tag with the storage policy;
• override the storage policy to perform on the first file at least a first storage operation specified by the first tag rule associated with the first tag;
• determining that the second file is not associated with the first tag;
• and
• performing on the second file at least a second storage operation specified by the storage policy, wherein the first and second secondary storage operations are different.