A storage system is implemented using a personal user device and a data distribution device. A personal user device stores a particular content item and transmits the particular content item to a data distribution device for storage. A client device transmits a request for the particular content item to the personal user device. The personal user device determines a characteristic associated with the personal user device, the data distribution device, the client device, and/or the particular content item. Based on the characteristic, the personal user device determines whether to serve the particular content item, or to redirect the client device to the data distribution device to obtain the particular content item. If the client device is redirected, then the client device transmits a request for the particular content item to the data distribution device. The data distribution device transmits the particular content item to the client device.