Data Classification

[David Bell_1]

All,

I'm hoping to find a white paper or the like on data classification. Specifically, something like "there are four types of data";
1. Revenue Generating
2. Revenue Impacting
3. User critical
4. General archive

Perhaps associated to these data types are the types of storage or backup that should accompany it. Something along the lines of Highly Available, snap copy, tape backup, etc.

Thank you,

Dave

[Stuart Whitby]

I think you'd be best to look into EMC's idea of Information Lifecycle Management (start at www.emc.com/ilm and drill down from there). This looks like it will give you good information on the subject and probably a whitepaper which would cover it.

The strategy is pretty much about making sure that your most important data is quickly and readily available, and as it becomes obsolete it gets moved off to slower, cheaper media and eventually archived.

[David Bell_1]

Stuart,

Thank you for the response. I have looked at EMC's ILM and have a white paper from them and others. I do understand ILM, I'm simply looking for documentation that would provide "data classification". Obviously the classic representation exists such as:

Mission Critical
Business Vital
Business Important
Important Productivity
Not Important
Discard

I guess I'm wondering if there are other classifications more "revenue based".

Thanks,

Dave

[Stuart Whitby · Accepted solution]

I'm unaware of any specific classifications such as the ones you mention. It probably depends on the type of business you're in. However, my guess would be for something like the following:

Business critical - realtime information which the company cannot function or profit without (call billing info for a telecoms company, warehousing and distribution information for a book publisher, logistics database for a trucking company etc.)

Business priority - anything which causes serious frustration for customers or "loss of face" to the business which may make customers go elsewhere (support centre down, mail server down, web server down etc.)

Project data - reports, programs etc. which can be redone or recoded. This work may delay projects, but this does not seriously impact the profitability or operation of the business at the time.

Archive data - Historical information. This may still be urgent - such as previous scans on a hospital patient - but should also be looked on as a seperate entity to business critical. This is not used day-to-day, and probably should not be located on nearline storage.

My thrup'ny bit.

[David Bell_1]

Stuart,

Thanks for your insight, it at least provides an avenue of process.

Dave

[David Bell_1]

Using multiple sources such as SNIA, CommVault, EMC, Oracle, HP, CNT, and this forum, I have amassed enough data to cover my needs. Thanks.