Backup Snapshot Quarantine for Restoring Clean Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data management systems face challenges in efficiently recovering quarantined information from backup locations, particularly in cases of malware infection, where infected snapshots complicate the recovery of non-infected data.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for scanning snapshots for malware, quarantining infected data, and recovering non-infected content, utilizing a distributed decentralized database for metadata management and a distributed job scheduler to handle backup jobs in a fault-tolerant manner, ensuring reliable data recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If snapshots are stored in backup locations for data recovery, then data recovery capability is improved, but infected snapshots complicate the recovery process and reduce system reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the quarantine function from the backup storage system by introducing a dedicated quarantine store. Infected snapshots are moved to this isolated location, preventing them from contaminating the main backup repository while preserving the ability to recover clean data from unaffected snapshots.
Solution Approach 2:
The quarantine store acts as an intermediary between the backup store and the recovery process. It serves as a buffer that isolates infected snapshots from the clean backup data, allowing the system to maintain data recovery capabilities while containing malware threats.
2Productivity
If all snapshots are recovered without quarantine, then recovery speed is improved, but infected data can spread malware and compromise system integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary quarantine actions automatically when infected snapshots are detected. By pre-isolating infected snapshots in the quarantine store before they can propagate malware, the system maintains recovery speed for clean data while preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality treatments to different snapshots based on their infection status. Clean snapshots are recovered to their original locations for full functionality, while infected snapshots are restricted to the quarantine store with limited access, ensuring system integrity without sacrificing recovery efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If a centralized quarantine system is used, then management simplicity is improved, but system complexity and single point of failure risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup system into distinct functional components: a backup store for clean data, a quarantine store for isolated infected snapshots, and a scheduler for coordinated management. This segmentation distributes complexity across independent modules rather than creating a centralized single point of failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed scheduler enables autonomous quarantine management where individual nodes can independently detect, quarantine, and manage infected snapshots without requiring constant centralized intervention. Each node maintains local autonomy while coordinating through the distributed scheduler, reducing dependency on a single management point.
Data Source
AI summary
Subject matter related to data management is disclosed. Snapshots of a target object in a computing system may be stored, where the snapshot may correspond to multiple versions of the target object. An indication that information in one or more of the snapshots may be stored. A request to restore a snapshot of the target object may be received. In response to the request, a determination of whether the snapshot of the target object is prohibited from being restored may be made based on the indication that information in one or more of the snapshots is flagged for quarantine. A determination of whether to initiate a restoration operation in response to the request to restore the snapshot may also be made based on whether the snapshot is prohibited from being restored.