Executive Summary

IT operations, security, and compliance teams planning Windows file-server migrations lack reliable data on which files are actually read, leading to over-migration, missed dependencies, long projects, and gaps in forensic/audit trails. This pain is acute for enterprises and MSPs running many file servers where manual sampling and heuristic rules are error-prone and expensive. Build a lightweight Windows agent that records per-file read-access telemetry with minimal CPU and disk impact, feeding a SaaS console that classifies files as active, cold, or read-once and exports migration-ready move/retain/archive recommendations. Prioritize rapid rollout (minutes per server), privacy-preserving sampling, and integrations with cloud migration tools, SIEMs, and forensic workflows. The market is attractive now: ~$3.0B TAM (1.5M businesses × $2K ACV), a market score of 85/100 and revenue potential of 82/100, fueled by accelerated cloud migration and growing ransomware/forensic requirements. Buyers are trending toward SaaS and lightweight agents, which lowers procurement friction and shortens sales cycles. You can differentiate by specializing in read-access mapping (not full-blown audit logging), optimizing for tiny agent footprints, and offering MSP-friendly multi-tenant pricing and migration-ready outputs that show immediate ROI. Expect medium competition and real technical risks—telemetry validation, EDR conflicts, and compliance concerns—so plan for rapid pilot partnerships with MSPs and migration tool vendors to prove fidelity and value.

Market Opportunity

Map which files are read on Windows servers to plan migrations targets a $3.0B = 1.5M businesses × $2K ACV total addressable market with medium saturation and a year-over-year growth rate of 8% YoY — IT operations and security monitoring markets have steady growth according to industry analysts (Gartner/IDC).

Key trends driving demand: Cloud migration acceleration — more organizations are moving file shares to cloud platforms, creating demand for tools that determine which files to move or archive.; Ransomware and forensic needs — organizations need reliable file access trails to investigate incidents and prove file handling during audits.; Shift to SaaS and lightweight agents — buyers prefer quick-to-deploy SaaS tools with minimal server change windows, which favors lean telemetry agents and centralized analysis.; Data minimization & cost control — businesses want to avoid migrating cold or redundant data to expensive cloud storage, creating an opportunity for migration-focused analytics..

Key competitors include Microsoft Sysinternals / Windows Audit (Process Monitor, Sysmon, Event Log), Varonis, ManageEngine FileAudit / Netwrix Auditor.

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Map which files are read on Windows servers to plan migrations

Executive Summary

Market Validation

Market Opportunity

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