A storage system according to one embodiment includes a first storage tier; an intermediate storage tier; a second storage tier; logic for storing instances of a file in the first storage tier, the intermediate storage tier, and the second storage tier; logic for determining which of a plurality of instances of the file in the first storage tier are to be migrated to the second storage tier; logic for copying one instance of the file from the first storage tier to the intermediate storage tier; and logic for copying the instance of the file from the intermediate storage tier to the second storage tier for creating an instance of the file on the second storage tier for each instance of the file on the first storage tier that is to be migrated to the second storage tier. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.