Systems and methods for leveraging backup metadata to provide granular options for discovery of deleted items and recovery after data backup

A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor enables the computer processor to perform a method for performing a backup, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a computing device, a native view request to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) for a local file system stored on the computing device;
• intercepting, by a backup agent executing on the computing device, the native view request before the GUI is generated;
• obtaining, by the backup agent and in response to intercepting the native view request before the GUI is generated:
• a file system backup metadata associated with the local file system from a backup storage device, and
• a local file system metadata associated with the local file system from a local storage of the computing device;
• generating, by the backup agent, a combined file system content list using the file system backup metadata and the local file system metadata;
• generating, by the backup agent, the GUI using the combined file system content list, wherein the GUI comprises a graphical representation of the combined file system content list;
• and
• displaying, on a display of the computing device and to a user, the GUI.

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute a method for performing a backup comprising:
• receiving a native view request to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) for a local file system stored on the computing device;
• intercepting the native view request before the GUI is generated;
• obtaining, in response to intercepting the native view request before the GUI is generated:
• a file system backup metadata associated with the local file system from a backup storage device, and
• a local file system metadata associated with the local file system from a local storage of the computing device;
• generating a combined file system content list using the file system backup metadata and the local file system metadata;
• generating the GUI using the combined file system content list, wherein the GUI comprises a graphical representation of the combined file system content list;
• and
• displaying, on a display of the computing device and to a user, the GUI.