Described are techniques for configuring one or more physical devices of a data storage system for use in connection with provisioning storage for an application. A policy is received which includes one or more sets of data storage system best practices. Each of said one or more sets specifies data storage system best practices for a different type of data storage system including a first type associated with said data storage system. Configuration in connection with initialization of said data storage system is performed to configure a first portion of said one or more physical devices for use with one or more storage pools. The best practices for said first type of data storage system specified in said policy are used in performing said configuration processing.