Data Management Glossary
Metadata Catalog
A metadata catalog is a structured repository that stores and organizes metadata, which is data about data. In the context of unstructured data, a metadata catalog could track key information such as:
- File name, size, and format
- Creation/modification/access dates
- File owner or creator
- Storage location/path
- Tags and classifications (e.g., sensitive, archived, project-based)
- Access frequency and last access time
- Content-derived information (via indexing or AI/ML)
Think of a metadata catalog as a searchable, filterable index that lets organizations understand, organize, and act on their unstructured data.
What is the role of a Metadata Catalog in an Unstructured Data Management Strategy?
In environments with massive amounts of unstructured data (e.g., files, images, documents, videos), there are many potential benefits of a metadata catalog, also known as a global file index or metadabase, including:
1. Data Visibility & Inventory:
- Provides a centralized view of data across NAS, object stores, and cloud tiers.
- Helps identify data that is redundant, obsolete, or infrequently accessed.
2. Search & Discovery
- Allows users or system admins to search files based on metadata, not just names.
- Critical for compliance, legal holds, or data subject access requests.
3. Classification & Tagging
- Supports data classification for compliance, cost optimization, or access control.
- Enables policies for sensitive or regulated data.
- Helps automate data tiering, data archiving, and data deletion policies.
- Improves storage efficiency (see data storage optimization) by aligning data location with usage patterns.
5. Data Governance & Compliance
- Assists with audits, access reviews, and meeting regulatory standards like GDPR, HIPAA.
Metadata Cataloging and Intelligent Data Management
Komprise provides many metadata management capabilities as part of the Intelligent Data Management platform, including:
Deep Metadata Indexing
- Komprise scans data across storage systems without agents and builds a deep metadata catalog, including access patterns and ownership.
- This information is stored in a global file index, called the Komprise Metadatabase (KMBD). Read the KDX white paper for details.
Global File Index
- Lets users query metadata across environments (on-prem and cloud) using custom search filters.
- Useful for legal, security, or business use cases, including self-service tagging as part of an AI data workflow. Read the solution brief.
Using the metadata catalog, Komprise enables automated workflows:
- Tier cold data to cheaper storage.
- Archive, copy, confine data based on age, access, or tags.
- Tag files with business context for searchability.
A metadata-driven analytics engine that lets users explore file attributes at scale.
- Helps visualize storage usage, growth, and optimization opportunities.
Tagging & Custom Metadata Support
- Users can apply custom tags to files or file sets (e.g., “Finance FY23”, “Legal Hold”).
- These tags can be used in policy rules, search, or reporting.
Why a Metadata Catalog for Unstructured Data?
A metadata catalog is the backbone of any modern unstructured data strategy. it enables visibility, control, and automation. Komprise addresses this by offering a deep, scalable, storage-agnostic metadata index, tied to actionable policies and intelligent tiering. (Read the unstructured data tiering best practices guide.) This makes a metadata catalog especially valuable in environments where data sprawl is rampant and cost optimization or compliance is a priority.