Data storage system providing unified file/block cloud access

A data storage system includes local data storage devices, network interface circuitry providing an interface to a cloud storage service, and processing circuitry configured and operative to: (1) form a first storage pool and associated first storage objects using first pool units of storage from the first storage pool, the first storage pool using the local data storage devices for underlying real storage, the first storage objects including both file-oriented objects and block-oriented objects; (2) form a second storage pool and associated second storage objects using second pool units of storage from the second storage pool, the second storage pool using the cloud storage service for underlying real storage; and (3) execute one or more of a tiering process and a backup process by which the first storage objects are migrated or copied to corresponding ones of the second storage objects for persistent storage by the cloud storage service.