Automatic data protection for virtual machines using virtual machine attributes

A method comprising:

• determining, by a processor, a data protection priority for a virtual machine using storage attributes including a name cluster length associated with the virtual machine, the data protection priority defining a priority of backing up a particular set of data associated with the virtual machine including by assigning a higher data protection priority for the virtual machine in response to a determination that the name cluster length of the virtual machine is greater than a name cluster length of at least one other virtual machine, wherein virtual machines are grouped into a same cluster based at least in part on a same prefix in a name of a virtual machine, the name cluster length of a virtual machine being determined by a ratio of (i) a number of virtual machines with a same prefix to (ii) a total number of virtual machines;
• and
• determining, by the processor, a recommendation of a data protection operation to be taken with respect to the virtual machine based at least in part on the determined data protection priority, wherein the data protection operation includes taking a snapshot of the particular set of data at a specific time.

A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for a processor to:

• use storage attributes including a name cluster length associated with a virtual machine to determine, for the virtual machine, a data protection priority defining a priority of backing up a particular set of data associated with the virtual machine including by assigning a higher data protection priority for the virtual machine in response to a determination that the name cluster length of the virtual machine is greater than a name cluster length of at least one other virtual machine, wherein virtual machines are grouped into a same cluster based at least in part on a same prefix in a name of a virtual machine, the name cluster length of a virtual machine being determined by a ratio of (i) a number of virtual machines with a same prefix to (ii) a total number of virtual machines;
• and
• determine a recommendation of a data protection operation to be taken with respect to the virtual machine based at least in part on the determined data protection priority, wherein the data protection operation includes taking a snapshot of the particular set of data at a specific time.