Storage processing units or SPUs (120) operate backend storage (150) to provide scalable storage services, redundancy, and disaster recovery to an enterprise. Each SPU (120) may reside in a host server (110) and may include an processor domain (490) with backup power (440) and isolation from a host domain (480) to allow the SPU (120) to operate after the host (110) fails or otherwise stops providing power. A cloud-based management system (180) may assess the storage needs of the enterprise, identify a storage style suited to the enterprise, and direct the SPUs (120) to create virtual volumes (122, 124, 128) having characteristics according to the storage style identified. The cloud based management system (180) may eliminate the need for the enterprise to have expertise in storage management.