A node is provided. The node includes a receiver configured to receive data from an application. The data includes at least one of an expected workload on a dataset by the application and at least one expected characteristic of the dataset. The node includes a processor. The node includes a memory containing instructions, executable by the processor, that cause the processor to: compare the received data to a multiple storage backend configurations, select a storage backend configuration from the multiple storage backend configurations based on the comparison, cause creation of the dataset in a first storage backend having the selected storage backend configuration, determine performance data associated with at least one of performance of the first storage backend and actual workload on the dataset by the application, and modify at least one storage parameter of the first storage backend based on the determined performance data.