AUTOMATICALLY MODIFYING COMPUTER PARAMETERS AS AN INCENTIVE FOR COMPLYING WITH DATA POLICIES

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for automatically modifying computer parameters as an incentive for complying with data policies. During operation, the system receives, at a computing system, a data policy definition, wherein the data policy definition comprises: one or more metrics associated with data usage, and one or more desired vectors associated with the one or more metrics. Next, the system receives, at the computing system, usage statistics for data, wherein the usage statistics comprise the one or more metrics for one or more clients. The system then analyzes the usage statistics to determine, at the computing system, a first score indicating how a first client in the one or more clients is performing compared to the one or more desired vectors for the one or more metrics. Finally, the system automatically modifies a parameter of the computing system associated with the first client based on the first score.