Hierarchical Backup Policy Visualization for Sub-Organizational Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data backup management technologies face challenges in managing differing needs across multiple business groups and locations, including planning, communication, and security, as well as resource sharing and cost attribution.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for visualizing a backup environment on a sub-organizational basis, allowing for customizable backup policies, resource utilization tracking, and cost assignment, which enables hierarchical management and resource sharing among organizational levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If backup management is performed at an organizational level, then resource sharing and cost attribution are simplified, but the ability to address differing needs of specific business groups and locations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements hierarchical organization of backup policies into multiple levels (e.g., company-level, department-level, project-level), allowing different segments of the organization to have customized backup requirements while maintaining a unified management framework. This segmentation enables tailored backup strategies for different business groups without requiring completely separate management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested policy inheritance model where lower-level backup policies inherit from higher-level policies. For example, department-level policies can inherit company-level backup settings while overriding specific parameters as needed. This nesting approach allows detailed customization at lower levels while maintaining the structural simplicity of a hierarchical system.
2Reliability
If detailed sub-organizational views of backup environment are provided, then planning and security control are improved, but system complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic user interface that adapts its level of detail based on the user's organizational role and permissions. Executives see summarized views at high levels, while administrators see detailed configurations at lower levels. The system dynamically adjusts the complexity of the interface based on the user's context, maintaining security control without consistently presenting complex interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer of abstraction through the hierarchical policy inheritance system. This intermediary allows users to interact with backup management at appropriate levels of detail without directly confronting the full complexity of the underlying system. The policy inheritance mechanism acts as a mediator that simplifies interactions while maintaining detailed control where needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If backup policies are fully customizable at all organizational levels, then adaptability to specific needs is improved, but security risks and misconfiguration errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary validation of backup policies against predefined security templates and best practices before they are activated. The system performs preliminary checks to ensure that customized policies meet minimum security requirements, preventing harmful configurations from being deployed while still allowing necessary customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor backup policy execution and provide real-time alerts when policies deviate from expected behavior or security standards. The system continuously feedbacks to administrators when potential security issues are detected, allowing for corrective action before security risks materialize.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for operating a computing system to facilitate visualization of a backup environment are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method of operating a computing system to facilitate visualization of a backup environment. The method may comprise performing a backup service for an organization and rendering a graphical user interface that presents a plurality of views of the backup environment for the organization on a sub-organizational basis.