Policy based stub file and cloud object retention

A method comprising:

• receiving an input specifying one or more rules in connection with archiving one or more of a plurality of files from a source storage location to a target storage location, wherein the one or more rules specify one or more constraints for retention of the one or more of the plurality of files and of one or more stub files respectively corresponding to the one or more of the plurality of files;
• retrieving the one or more of the plurality of files from the source storage location;
• sending the one or more of the plurality of files to the target storage location;
• sending a request via an application programming interface to the target storage location that the target storage location invoke the one or more rules, wherein the one or more rules are applied in the target storage location to retain the one or more of the plurality of files in the target storage location, and wherein the target storage location comprises a cloud storage platform;
• and
• generating the one or more stub files in the source storage location in response to the sending of the one or more of the plurality of files to the target storage location, wherein the one or more rules are applied in the source storage location to retain the one or more stub files in the source storage location;
• wherein the one or more constraints for retention comprise a retention period that specifies a duration for which the one or more of the plurality of files and the one or more stub files are prohibited from being at least one of overwritten and deleted;
• wherein the one or more rules include one of a first retention mode and a second retention mode to retain the one or more of the plurality of files in the target storage location and retain the one or more stub files in the source storage location;
• wherein the first retention mode corresponds to a first level of retention and identifies one or more users with permission to modify the one or more rules;
• wherein the second retention mode corresponds to a second level of retention that prohibits modification of the one or more rules;
• and
• wherein the method is performed by at least one processing platform comprising at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein program code of one or more software programs, wherein the program code when executed by at least one processing platform causes the at least one processing platform:

• to receive an input specifying one or more rules in connection with archiving one or more of a plurality of files from a source storage location to a target storage location, wherein the one or more rules specify one or more constraints for retention of the one or more of the plurality of files and of one or more stub files respectively corresponding to the one or more of the plurality of files;
• to retrieve the one or more of the plurality of files from the source storage location;
• to send the one or more of the plurality of files to the target storage location;
• to send a request via an application programming interface to the target storage location that the target storage location invoke the one or more rules, wherein the one or more rules are applied in the target storage location to retain the one or more of the plurality of files in the target storage location, and wherein the target storage location comprises a cloud storage platform;
• and
• to generate the one or more stub files in the source storage location in response to the sending of the one or more of the plurality of files to the target storage location, wherein the one or more rules are applied in the source storage location to retain the one or more stub files in the source storage location;
• wherein the one or more constraints for retention comprise a retention period that specifies a duration for which the one or more of the plurality of files and the one or more stub files are prohibited from being at least one of overwritten and deleted;
• wherein the one or more rules include one of a first retention mode and a second retention mode to retain the one or more of the plurality of files in the target storage location and retain the one or more stub files in the source storage location;
• wherein the first retention mode corresponds to a first level of retention and identifies one or more users with permission to modify the one or more rules;
• and
• wherein the second retention mode corresponds to a second level of retention that prohibits modification of the one or more rules.