Method, data processing systems, and computer program products are provided for virtualizing and managing a storage virtualization system (SVS) in a storage management architecture. Source data is copied from the source storage media to target data in a target storage media based on a predefined copy policy in a copy mapping table. A relation between the source data and the target data is tracked in a copy mapping table. It is determined if a copy of the requested data exists using the copy mapping table. A least utilized storage system having a copy of the requested storage media is determined. Access to the requested storage media in the least utilized storage system is tested. If access is not possible, access to a copy of the requested storage media in another storage system is provided by updating a frontend-backend mapping table and forwarding all data access commands to the other system.