Described are techniques for provisioning storage of a data storage system for use by an application. One or more application provision requirements associated with a provisioning request to provision storage for use by the application are received. The one or more application provision requirements are translated, in accordance with application best practices for the application included in a policy, to one or more generic storage resource requirements. The one or more generic storage resource requirements are translated, in accordance with data storage system best practices included in said policy, to one or more physical data storage requirements. The physical data storage requirements include identification of one or more physical storage devices in said data storage system used in allocating storage to service said provisioning request. Storage is allocated for use by said application in accordance with said physical data storage requirements.