Interactive query by example expert system for autonomous data protection

One example method includes scanning a storage device to obtain data and metadata concerning operation of a computing system, analyzing the data and, based on the analyzing, deriving data groups that include some of the data, and deriving data relationships among some of the data, receiving, by an expert system, a query from a user, and the query specifies a sample object for the expert system to investigate, but the query does not indicate purpose of the user in submitting the query, analyzing the query, based on the data groups and data relationships, and based on the analyzing of the query, generating, by the expert system, query results that comprise a set of user-selectable investigation directions that relate to the sample object, and presenting, by the expert system, the set of user-selectable investigation directions to the user.