Abstract: A method of storing data items may comprise receiving an uncompressed data item for storage from a client process of a plurality of client processes over a computer network; storing the uncompressed data item; acknowledging storage of the data item to the client process and receiving at least one additional uncompressed data item for storage from the client process or from another one of the plurality of client processes. The stored uncompressed data item may then be compressed and stored. Upon receiving a request for access to the data item from one of the plurality of client processes over the computer network, the compressed data item is decompressed before providing the decompressed data item to the requesting client process over the computer network.