1. A method for defining deduplication block alignments within a data segment, the method comprising: iteratively performing a block alignment function on data within a sliding window in the data segment and, for each iterative performance of the block alignment function: in response to determining that an output of the block alignment function performed on a current window of data satisfies one or more predetermined criteria: establishing, with one or more computer processors, a deduplication data block having a predetermined block size; and moving the sliding window relative to the data segment by an amount based at least in part on the predetermined block size before performing a next consecutive iteration; and in response to determining that the output of the block alignment function performed on the current window of data does not satisfy the one or more predetermined criteria: moving the sliding window relative to the data segment by an incremental amount that is distinct from the predetermined block size before performing the next consecutive iteration and without establishing a deduplication data block, wherein gaps of data not belonging to any deduplication data block exist between established deduplication data blocks following performance of the block alignment function across the data segment.