1. A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), wherein the DSN includes a plurality of storage units, the method comprises: receiving, from a user device of the DSN, a data object for storage in the DSN, wherein the user device is associated with a virtual storage vault that is supported by a set of storage units of the plurality of storage units; determining dispersed storage error encoding parameters for the data object based on the virtual storage vault, wherein the dispersed storage error encoding parameters include a pillar width number, a decode threshold number, and an encoding function; determining to adjust the pillar width number based on activation status of storage units in the set of storage units and of at least one other storage unit in the plurality of storage units; when determined to adjust the pillar width number, adjusting the pillar width number to produce an adjusted pillar width number; dispersed storage error encoding the data object in accordance with the decode threshold number, the encoding function, and the adjusted pillar width number to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices; sending a subset of encoded data slices from each of at least some of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to active storage units of the set of storage units; and sending an encoded data slice from each of the at least some of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to an active storage unit of the plurality of storage units.