System and method for providing data protection workflows in a network environment

A method to be executed by a processor in a network environment, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of sets of metadata elements representing a plurality of objects, respectively, wherein the objects of the plurality of objects are classified by a classification module evaluating contents of the objects to determine classifications based on one or more categories, wherein an object is classified based on a particular category if the object contains content corresponding to at least one concept associated with the particular category;
• generating a summary of the plurality of objects including:
• a total category count representing a total number of objects classified based on the particular category;
• one or more sets of dimension groups corresponding respectively to the one or more categories, wherein the dimension groups of each set of dimension groups correspond to respective metadata dimensions that represent respective types of metadata;
• providing, for display on a display screen of a computer, a classification view of the classified objects, wherein the classification view includes the summary of the plurality of objects;
• receiving a request to manipulate the classification view to subdivide the total category count into two or more subset counts based on a selected dimension group;
• generating the two or more subset counts corresponding respectively to two or more subsets of the objects classified based on the particular category, wherein each subset is defined by a respective hierarchical path in a hierarchical arrangement formed by the particular category and at least the metadata dimensions of the selected dimension group, and wherein each subset includes objects associated with a different metadata element of the selected dimension group;
• providing, for display on the display screen, a manipulated classification view including the two or more subset counts and the hierarchical path for each corresponding subset;
• receiving a request from a user to perform a protection task on objects of a selected subset of the two or more subsets;
• and
• initiating the protection task for the objects of the selected subset.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a memory element configured to store data;
• and
• one or more processors operable to execute instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and the memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured to:
• receive a plurality of sets of metadata elements representing a plurality of objects, respectively, wherein the objects of the plurality of objects are classified by a classification module evaluating contents of the objects to determine classifications based on one or more categories, wherein an object is classified based on a particular category if the object contains content corresponding to at least one concept associated with the particular category;
• generate a summary of the plurality of objects including:
• a total category count representing a total number of objects classified based on the particular category;
• one or more sets of dimension groups corresponding respectively to the one or more categories, wherein the dimension groups of each set of dimension groups correspond to respective metadata dimensions that represent respective types of metadata;
• provide, for display on a display screen of a computer, a classification view of the classified objects, wherein the classification view includes the summary of the plurality of objects;
• receive a request to manipulate the classification view to subdivide the total category count into two or more subset counts based on a selected dimension group;
• generate the two or more subset counts corresponding respectively to two or more subsets of the objects classified based on the particular category, wherein each subset is defined by a respective hierarchical path in a hierarchical arrangement formed by the particular category and at least the metadata dimensions of the selected dimension group, and wherein each subset includes objects associated with a different metadata element of the selected dimension group;
• provide, for display on the display screen, a manipulated classification view including the two or more subset counts and the hierarchical path for each corresponding subset;
• receive a request from a user to perform a protection task on objects of a selected subset of the two or more subsets;
• and
• initiate the protection task for the objects of the selected subset.