A method and system for assigning service level objectives to data objects stored within a computer system. The computer system includes an information management server for providing customized services to data objects residing in the computer system. One exemplary method identifies a data object, such as a file, folder, database, and the like, that has been categorized according to at least one property associated with the data object. The method also identifies service level objectives that are available within the computer system. Service level objectives may include any type of service area or service level that can be provided to a data object. The data object is then associated with one or more of the service level objectives for requesting that the services associated with the one or more service level objectives be provided to the data object.