Modified representation of backup copy on restore

A computer software product, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to store in a backup storage system a backup copy of a database comprising primary data records that are stored and accessed by clients in a primary storage system, to create, in response to a first request made by a client to modify a specified record in the primary storage system, a modification rule with respect to the specified record for application to the backup copy, and in response to receiving a second request, subsequent to the first request, to restore to the primary storage system from the backup copy one or more of the data records in the database, including the specified record, to restore the one or more of the data records from the backup copy in the backup storage system to the database in the primary storage system while modifying the specified record in the data records restored to the database in the primary storage system in accordance with the modification rule, without modifying the backup copy of the database in the backup storage system.

Apparatus for data backup, comprising:

• a backup storage device, which is configured to store a backup copy of a database comprising primary data records that are stored and accessed by clients in a primary storage system;
• and
• a backup and recovery system, which is configured to create, in response to a first request made by a client to modify a specified record in the primary storage system, a modification rule with respect to the specified record for application to the backup copy, to receive a second request, subsequent to the first request, to restore to the primary storage system from the backup copy one or more of the data records in the database, including the specified record, and in response to the second request, to restore the one or more of the data records from the backup copy in the backup storage device to the database in the primary storage system while modifying the specified record in the data records restored to the database in the primary storage system in accordance with the modification rule, without modifying the backup copy of the database in the backup storage device.