1. A method comprises: receiving a data retrieval request; obtaining a real-time indicator corresponding to when the data retrieval request was received; determining a time-based data access policy based on the data retrieval request and the real-time indicator; accessing a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units in accordance with the time-based data access policy to retrieve encoded data slices; and when a threshold number of the encoded data slices have been retrieved, decoding the threshold number of encoded data slices in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function.