A method of collecting information about data and data handling processes from different types of applications in the context of a storage system is described. The retrieved information is presented to the user to illustrate the relationships among the data, for example, in the form of a data view illustrating the relationship among files, a storage view, illustrating the physical location at which the stored data is located, or a path view illustrating a particular path through the topology of the overall computing system and storage system. Also described are techniques for assuring the accuracy of backed up files.