Opportunistic execution of secondary copy operations

A storage management system for initiating backup jobs based on one or more backup-readiness scores instead of being based on a pre-defined schedule, the system comprising:

• a first computing device comprising one or more hardware processors,
• wherein an application and a data agent associated with the application execute on the first computing device, and
• wherein a first data storage device in communication with the first computing device stores a log file generated by the application;
• wherein the data agent is configured to:
• monitor a plurality of operational factors associated with at least one of the log file and the application, wherein a respective weight value is assigned to each operational factor in the plurality of operational factors,
• determine that a first backup-readiness score calculated for the log file exceeds a first threshold value, wherein the first backup-readiness score is based on one or more of the operational factors in the plurality of operational factors and the respective weight value assigned thereto, and
• based on determining that the first backup-readiness score calculated for the log file exceeds the first threshold value, cause the log file to be backed up into a first secondary copy of the log file that is stored to a second data storage device, which is distinct from the first data storage device;
• and
• wherein the data agent is further configured to:
• based on analyzing a plurality of previously-executed backup jobs, increase a first weight value assigned to a first operational factor among the plurality of operational factors, wherein the first operational factor most often, compared to other operational factors in the plurality of operational factors, exceeded a second threshold value associated with the first operational factor in the plurality of previously-executed backup jobs,
• determine that a second backup-readiness score, calculated for the log file and using the increased first weight value assigned to the first operational factor, exceeds the first threshold value, and
• based on determining that the second backup-readiness score calculated for the log file exceeds the first threshold value, cause the log file to be backed up into a second secondary copy of the log file that is stored to the second data storage device.