SECURITY AND LICENSING WITH APPLICATION AWARE STORAGE

Described are techniques for processing a data storage configuration request for an application. The data storage configuration request is received from a requester. A first user level of a plurality of user levels at which the data storage configuration request is made by the requester is determined. Each user level is associated with a different level of abstraction with respect to processing performed in the data storage system for implementing the data storage configuration request. The data storage configuration request is serviced. Servicing the request includes determining whether to perform the data storage configuration request in accordance with security criteria defining, for each of the plurality of user levels, permitted operations that may be performed for different requesters in connection with the data storage configuration request.