Applying data protection and control policies using content-based datasets by scanning data objects stored in the system to determine grouped data that is processed similarly with respect to data protection and access control operations defined by a policy. A dataset is produced comprising metadata the scanned data objects of the grouped data. The actions performed on the dataset will affect only the corresponding data objects referenced by the metadata. A policy attribute derivation (PAD) process determines a change in the policy affecting a subset of data objects of the dataset and dictating changed data protection and access control operations applied to this subset, and tags the change in the policy as a PAD tag to the dataset to affect the application of the changed data protection and access control operations only to the subset and not any remaining data objects of the dataset.