System and method for removable data storage elements provided as cloud based storage system

A method comprising:

• receiving first metadata associated with a first stream of user data, a second metadata associated with a second stream of user data, and a third metadata associated with a third stream of user data;
• grouping the first and the third metadata based on at least one common parameter;
• and
• storing the first stream of user data and the third stream of user data on at least one first removable data storage element designated for the common parameter.

A removable media storage system for a cloud environment, comprising:

• a removable media library having a plurality of removable data storage elements structured and arranged for linear data access;
• a receiver structured and arranged to receive a request to store a generally random collection of data objects, each data object having at least one identifiable element;
• a orderer structured and arranged to organize a generally random collection of data objects based on at least one first identifiable element;
• and
• a director structured and arranged to direct linear data storage of the organized data objects upon the removable media data storage elements, the director further structured and arranged to retrieve a previously stored data object from a removable data storage element in response to a user request.