Cloud-based file and object archive

A system deployed in a cloud computing environment, wherein computer programming instructions that are executed by one or more computer hardware processors of the cloud computing environment configure the system to:

• access a dataset comprising primary data stored at a primary data storage;
• index one or more metadata attributes that are associated with data objects of the dataset, resulting in indexed metadata of the dataset;
• receive, via a user interface, a request to simulate archiving of the dataset wherein the request comprises a plurality of archiving criteria, wherein the request indicates a first archive storage destination for storing archive copies, and wherein the first archive storage destination is distinct from the primary data storage;
• identify, based on the indexed metadata, one or more portions of the dataset that satisfy the plurality of archiving criteria;
• determine a first amount of data storage that is occupied by the one or more portions of the dataset at the primary data storage;
• predict a cost savings that would be realized by archiving the dataset according to the request, which would free up the first amount of data storage at the primary data storage and would store archive copies of the one or more portions at the first archive storage destination;
• present, at the user interface, an option to implement, in the system, an archiving plan according to the request to simulate archiving of the dataset, and further present one or more of:
• the first amount of data storage and the cost savings;
• responsive to a selection of the option at the user interface:
• generate the archiving plan, store the archiving plan at a management database maintained by the system, and further store at the management database an association between the archiving plan and the dataset;
• and
• perform an archiving job of the dataset according to the archiving plan, wherein the archiving job comprises:
• generating one or more archive copies of the one or more portions of the dataset that satisfy the plurality of archiving criteria, storing the one or more archive copies at the first archive storage destination, and removing the one or more portions from the primary data storage;
• wherein the primary data storage is configured in the cloud computing environment, wherein the first archive storage destination is also configured in the cloud computing environment, and wherein the first archive storage destination is a lower-priced storage tier than the primary data storage.