Granular application data lifecycle sourcing from a single backup

A computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer system, wherein the computer system implements a method in response to executing the instructions, the method comprising:

• periodically creating a primary backup copy of data stored on a storage system in order to create a plurality of concurrently existing, primary backup copies;
• and
• periodically creating a first backup copy of data stored on the storage system in order to create a plurality of first backup copies, wherein
• each of the first backup copies is created in part by selectively copying some, but not all of the data from a respective one of the primary backup copies,
• wherein the selectively copying the some, but not all of the data is based, at least in part, on a predetermined retention period associated with the some, but not all of the data, wherein
• the predetermined retention period of the some, but not all of the data is distinct from a different retention period associated with other data in the primary backup copy;
• wherein a first periodicity of creating the primary backup copies is once and only once each day;
• and
• wherein a second periodicity of creating the first backup copies is once and only once each week.

An apparatus comprising:

• a storage system for storing data;
• a primary backup storage system for storing a plurality of primary backup copies of data stored on the storage system;
• a secondary backup storage system for storing a plurality of secondary backup copies of data stored on the primary backup storage system;
• a computer system configured
• to periodically create a primary backup copy of data stored on the storage system in order to create the plurality of concurrently existing, primary backup copies, and
• to periodically create a secondary backup copy of data stored on the primary backup storage system in order to create the plurality of secondary backup copies, wherein
• each secondary backup copy is created by the computer system by selectively copying some, but not all of the data from a respective one of the primary backup copies, wherein
• the selectively copying the some, but not all of the data is based, at least in part, on a predetermined retention period associated with the some, but not all of the data, wherein
• the predetermined retention period of the some, but not all of the data, is distinct from a different retention period associated with other data in the primary backup copy;
• wherein a first periodicity of creating the primary backup copies is once and only once each day;
• and
• wherein a second periodicity of creating the first backup copies is once and only once each week.