Immutable snapshot copies stored in write once read many (WORM) storage

#Many industries, such as financial, automotive, and healthcare industries, may have requirements where data and backup data is to be stored within immutable storage for a particular amount of time for compliance purposes. This data may be stored in an immutable state where the data cannot be deleted or modified for a retention time, such as 1 month. For example, the data may be locked down into a protected state for data retention and compliance purposes, such as by being stored in the immutable storage with write once read many (WORM) access. While in the protected/immutable state, the data cannot be modified or deleted. Once the retention time has expired, the data may be modified or deleted.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing environment in which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a network environment with exemplary node computing devices.

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary node computing device.

#Some examples of the claimed subject matter are now described with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. Nothing in this detailed description is admitted as prior art.

#Many users are starting to store their data within remote object stores, such as cloud computing environments, which provide relatively cost effective and scalable storage. For example, a client may store data within a volume hosted by a node using storage managed by the node. The client may actively access and modify the data within the volume. The node may generate snapshots of the volume as point in time representations of the volume. The node may store snapshot data of these snapshots into objects formatted according to an object format. The node may then store these objects within a remote object store for long term cost effective storage of snapshots of the volume.

#The client may specify or be subject to a storage retention policy where the snapshots are to be retained in an immutable state for a retention time period. In an example, financial data, healthcare data, or other types of data, may be subject to the storage retention policy where the snapshots cannot be deleted or modified for the retention time. For example, the snapshot data of the snapshots stored within the objects are to be retained in the immutable state for 3 months before the snapshots and corresponding objects can be modified or deleted. When an object comprising snapshot data of a snapshot subject to the storage retention policy is stored within the remote object store, an expiry time may be assigned to the object. The expiry time may be based upon a creation time of the snapshot or object and the retention time. The object may remain in the immutable state where the object cannot be modified or delete until expiration of the expiry time. In this way, the snapshot data of the snapshot stored within the object cannot be deleted or modified for the retention time, thus satisfying the storage retention policy.