A device for use in a storage network including storage network memory distributed amongst a plurality of storage units. The device includes a processing module operably couple to a memory that stores operational instructions. The processing module is configured to execute the operational instructions to determine storage parameters associated with encoded data slices generated from data to be stored in the plurality of storage units. The storage parameters include information indicating a read threshold number of encoded data slices required to recover the data. The method further includes facilitating distributed storage of the encoded data slices among the plurality of storage units such that the number of the error-encoded data slices stored in any particular storage unit is chosen so that in the event of an unavailability of any individual storage unit, at least a read threshold number of encoded data slices are still accessible from the remaining storage units.