Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system and method for data management according to the content of the data. The system may enable data to be stored in one of a plurality of different storage options according to at least one characteristic of the data, in which the at least one characteristic is related to the content of the data. The system may comprise a rule-based storage management mechanism for the processes of archiving and/or retrieving data. Optionally, the data is stored for a time interval according to the at least one characteristic of the data and may be moved to a different type of storage option after an event occurs, for example the time interval has elapsed.