Optimizing file access includes a process for identifying a file access event for a first accessed file, and incrementing a first access counter in an access list in a memory, which also includes access counters for other accessed files. The process further includes exporting the first access counter to a performance monitoring dashboard, or exporting to a storage allocator and, based on the value, moving the first accessed file between a first storage and a second storage. The process also includes determining whether the value of the first access counter meets a first threshold, or a sum of values of the access counters for the other accessed files meets a second threshold. Based on meeting the first threshold or meeting the second threshold, the process includes persisting the access counters on a storage media. The access counters also provide security monitoring (e.g., identifying excessive file access).