US Patent 9614826 Sensitive data protection

A computer-implemented method for protecting sensitive data is described. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying data stored at a first storage system. The identified data is classified as sensitive data. The method includes copying at least a portion of the identified sensitive data from the first storage system, transferring the copied portion of the identified sensitive data from the first storage system to a file stored at a second storage system, and storing a virtual symbolic link at the first storage system. The virtual symbolic link includes information regarding the file stored at the second storage system.