A method for use with an edge storage system having online access to a cloud storage system, the method comprising: storing a data object from a client device to the edge storage system, the data object being identified by an object identifier in a namespace of the edge storage system; storing a copy of the data object on a transportable storage device that is communicatively coupled to the edge storage system, wherein the transportable storage device is configured to be communicatively decoupled from the edge storage system to be transported to a cloud data center for upload of the copy of the data object to the cloud storage system; removing data storage associated with the data object from the edge storage system responsive to storing the copy of the data object on the transportable storage device; maintaining visibility to the client device of the object identifier in the namespace after communicative decoupling of the transportable storage device from the edge storage system; receiving, at the edge storage system, a request for the object identifier in the namespace; sending, responsive to the received request and before upload of the copy of the data object from the transportable storage device to the cloud storage system, a message that a copy of the data object is unavailable; receiving, at the edge storage system, a subsequent request for the object identifier in the namespace; and downloading to the edge storage system, responsive to the received subsequent request and after upload of the copy of the data object from the transportable storage device to the cloud storage system, the copy of the data object from the cloud storage system. storing a data object from a client device to the edge storage system, the data object being identified by an object identifier in a namespace of the edge storage system; storing a copy of the data object on a transportable storage device that is communicatively coupled to the edge storage system, wherein the transportable storage device is configured to be communicatively decoupled from the edge storage system to be transported to a cloud data center for upload of the copy of the data object to the cloud storage system; removing data storage associated with the data object from the edge storage system responsive to storing the copy of the data object on the transportable storage device; maintaining visibility to the client device of the object identifier in the namespace after communicative decoupling of the transportable storage device from the edge storage system; receiving, at the edge storage system, a request for the object identifier in the namespace; sending, responsive to the received request and before upload of the copy of the data object from the transportable storage device to the cloud storage system, a message that a copy of the data object is unavailable; receiving, at the edge storage system, a subsequent request for the object identifier in the namespace; and downloading to the edge storage system, responsive to the received subsequent request and after upload of the copy of the data object from the transportable storage device to the cloud storage system, the copy of the data object from the cloud storage system.