1. A method for retrieving data from a storage system having a plurality of storage pools, the method comprising: processing configurable data retrieval instructions to determine an order for retrieving target data from among a plurality of storage pools from which target data is to be retrieved, in response to a data restore request; and retrieving the target data from a target storage pool to satisfy the restore request, wherein the configurable data retrieval instructions are managed by a source external to the storage system with administrative authority to change the configurable data retrieval instructions to optimize data restoration from the storage system.