Methods and systems for managing data in shared storage systems, such as virtualized storage arrays, physical disks and hypervisor data stores are provided. One method includes providing multiple data storage devices including a bottom tier of data storage devices including a plurality of physical data storage devices and at least one higher tier of data storage devices including a plurality of virtual data storage devices and storing, by a processor, a data type record including a list of data types recognized by a storage system and a plurality of access control records. The method further includes controlling movement of logical units of data within the storage system resulting from data operations that map data between the data storage tiers while maintaining one or more policies defined in the plurality of access control records. Systems and computer program products for performing the above method are also provided.