Data storage systems are provided having a segregated control plane architecture, a segregated data plane architecture, or a segregated control plane and segregated data plane architecture. For example, a data storage system includes a plurality of media nodes and a plurality of data nodes coupled to the media nodes. The media nodes control and manage persistent storage elements. Each data node includes at least one hardware processor configured to execute data plane functions and control plane functions, wherein at least one of (i) the data plane functions of a given one of the data nodes are segregated and executed by different hardware processors and (ii) the control plane functions of a given one of the data nodes are segregated and executed by different hardware processors.