Abstract: A method performed by a data storage system includes (a) receiving a set of data storage commands directed to the data storage system, (b) identifying that a subset of the set of received data storage commands satisfies a pre-defined pattern, and (c) in response to identifying, applying a policy associated with the pre-defined pattern to fulfillment of the data storage commands of the subset. The pre-defined pattern (e.g., detecting SCSI Extended Copy commands directed at logical block addresses that are close to each other as part of a single stream) and its associated policy (e.g., serializing the SCSI Extended Copy commands of the stream, and preferably executing them in order by address) may be pre-programmed into the data storage system at configuration time, or the pre-defined patterns and associated policies may be input by a user at any time.