Object Storage Overview

Editor's Notes

1. The metadata present in Object Storage gives users the context a nd content information they need to properly manage and access unstructured data. They can easily search for data without knowing specific filenames, dates or traditional file designations. They can also use the metadata to apply policies for routing, re tention and deletion as well as automate storage management . For example, with the MRI scan, a storage policy can be set to look at the metadata associated with it , track the patient’s name and then determine if the patient is currently admitted to the ho spital. If the patient is not, the MRI scan can be sent to archival storage. On the other hand, if the MRI o bject is for a current patient who is admitted for ongoing treatment, the object can be routed to near - line storage so that it can be immediately retrieved the next time the patient visits the hospital. As another example , if a sto rage manager comes across an MP3 file and the metadata indicates that the data contained within it is an employee’s personal music file, the storage policy will know to m anage it diffe rently than if the MP3 file was the recording of something important to the company or institution (e.g. a physician’s recorded notes) .