Patent ID: 8214332

Claim:
A method for retaining data by a processor device applying a data retention policy construct in a data storage system, comprising: following an operation creating a redundant copy of the data performed on a scheduled interval, creating a logical object containing a plurality of managed file versions represented by first a plurality of member objects each generated on a first periodic basis for a first predetermined amount of time; assigning the logical object a first data retention policy, wherein the first plurality of member objects are adapted for reassignment from the first data retention policy to a second data retention policy to generate a second plurality of member objects on a second periodic basis for a second predetermined amount of time at an incremental expiration of the first periodic basis for the first predetermined amount of time; and reassigning the logical object from the first data retention policy to the second data retention policy, wherein each of the first plurality of member objects are reassigned from the first data retention policy to the second data retention policy at each incremental expiration of the first predetermined amount of time for each respective member object in the first plurality of member objects, wherein during said reassignment of the logical object, the second plurality of member objects are logically retained in the logical object instead of performing a data copy operation on the second plurality of member objects.