A computer implemented method comprising: assigning, by a master node, a workload to a first node; associating, by the master node, a first generation identifier and a first workload identifier with the first workload; communicating, by the master node, the first generation identifier, the first workload identifier, and the first workload to the first node; receiving, by a storage system, from the first node, an access request to a node in the storage system to access target data, wherein the first generation identifier and the first workload identifier are provided with the request to identify the first node and the related first workload; during a communication failure between the master node and the first node, by the master node, generating a second generation identifier, associating the second generation identifier with the first workload, and communicating (412, 418) the second generation identifier, the first workload identifier, and the first workload to a second node, wherein the second generation identifier communicates a different priority from the first generation identifier; receiving, by the storage system, from the second node, an access request to the node in the storage system to access the target data, wherein the second generation identifier and the first workload identifier are provided with the request to identify the second node and the first workload; determining, by the storage system, whether the second generation identifier indicates a higher or a lower priority than the first generation identifier; and determining, by the storage system, whether to grant the access request received from the second node for the target data based on the priorities communicated by the first and second generation identifier, respectively; wherein determining whether to grant the access request further comprises: if the second generation identifier indicates a higher priority than the first generation identifier: determining whether the access request sent by the second node is permissive, wherein a permissive access request indicates that the second node should not interrupt the first node if it is determined that the first node is still processing the first workload: if the access request sent by the second node is permissive and if it is determined that the first node is still processing the first workload: indicating, by the storage system to the second node, that the target data is locked; periodically sending access requests by the second node to the storage system; and obtaining access to the target data by the second node once the first node has finished processing the first workload. assigning, by a master node, a workload to a first node; associating, by the master node, a first generation identifier and a first workload identifier with the first workload; communicating, by the master node, the first generation identifier, the first workload identifier, and the first workload to the first node; receiving, by a storage system, from the first node, an access request to a node in the storage system to access target data, wherein the first generation identifier and the first workload identifier are provided with the request to identify the first node and the related first workload; during a communication failure between the master node and the first node, by the master node, generating a second generation identifier, associating the second generation identifier with the first workload, and communicating (412, 418) the second generation identifier, the first workload identifier, and the first workload to a second node, wherein the second generation identifier communicates a different priority from the first generation identifier; receiving, by the storage system, from the second node, an access request to the node in the storage system to access the target data, wherein the second generation identifier and the first workload identifier are provided with the request to identify the second node and the first workload; determining, by the storage system, whether the second generation identifier indicates a higher or a lower priority than the first generation identifier; and determining, by the storage system, whether to grant the access request received from the second node for the target data based on the priorities communicated by the first and second generation identifier, respectively; wherein determining whether to grant the access request further comprises: if the second generation identifier indicates a higher priority than the first generation identifier: determining whether the access request sent by the second node is permissive, wherein a permissive access request indicates that the second node should not interrupt the first node if it is determined that the first node is still processing the first workload: if the access request sent by the second node is permissive and if it is determined that the first node is still processing the first workload: indicating, by the storage system to the second node, that the target data is locked; periodically sending access requests by the second node to the storage system; and obtaining access to the target data by the second node once the first node has finished processing the first workload. indicating, by the storage system to the second node, that the target data is locked; periodically sending access requests by the second node to the storage system; and obtaining access to the target data by the second node once the first node has finished processing the first workload.