In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device comprising a data transfer optimization module, input identifying a source directory comprising data and a target directory at a storage device, splitting the data into a plurality of data groups for transfer to the storage device, transmitting the data groups concurrently to the storage device on data paths wherein transfer times of the data groups are monitored, receiving at the data transfer optimization module, identification of a data group with a longest transfer time, splitting the data group with the longest transfer time, and placing the data from the data group into at least two of the data groups for transfer to the storage device. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.