Application discovery using access pattern history

Application discovery from access patterns is disclosed. Access histories from multiple servers are collected and stored at a warehouse, which may be part of a data protection system. A time series analysis is performed on the access history to identify consistency groups and applications from the perspective of devices and storage arrays. Data protection operations such as backup operations can then be performed on the basis of devices or storage in storage arrays or other arrangements that pertain to specific consistency groups or to specific applications.