A system and method for storage of data is described where the data and commands received by a storage system is processed using at least a pair of redundant channels, configured so that received data buffered in a first channel is also buffered by a second channel prior to acknowledgement of the completion of the command execution. This permits a low latency of response to commands while securely storing the data. Data that is buffered in the first channel may be processed for storage, or for deduplication or compression prior to sending to the storage system subsequent to the acknowledgement of completion of the command and the data may then be purged from the data buffers in the redundant channels. A file identified as being smaller in size than the size allocated to associated metadata may be stored as part of the metadata without being sent to the storage system.