A cloud storage system comprising: a plurality of storage clusters (208A, 208B), each storage cluster comprising: a plurality of storage nodes, each storage node comprising: a partition layer (212A, 212B) adapted for storing data in blobs within containers in a flat file system utilizing a flat namespace; and a stream layer (214A, 214B) adapted for streaming blob data; a hierarchical namespace service (104A, 104B) adapted for implementing file system functions on the data stored in the blobs, the file system functions including directory functions and file functions utilizing a hierarchical namespace, each directory being configured to include files and other directories as requested via the file system functions, each file being stored in one blob, wherein the hierarchical namespace service (104A, 104B) comprises a master directory table configured to identify files and directories within each directory, wherein performing a move of a directory or a file does not require moving or copying blobs; and a front end layer (210A, 210B) adapted for processing user requests to access and manage data stored on the blobs, the front end layer (210A, 210B) accessing the partition layer (212A, 212B) to access the blobs based on addresses of blobs, the front end layer (210A, 210B) accessing the hierarchical namespace service (104A, 104B) to identify the blobs, wherein the data stored on the blobs is accessible for user requests via both, the flat filename system and the hierarchical namespace service, and the storage system comprises a storage system API adapted for parsing the user requests utilizing the flat filename system, and a file system API adapted for parsing the user requests utilizing the hierarchical namespace, wherein the hierarchical namespace service (104A, 104B) is adapted for receiving file system commands, mapping directories and files included in the requests into the blob addresses, and applying the file system commands against the blobs in the flat namespace according to the flat file system. a plurality of storage nodes, each storage node comprising: a partition layer (212A, 212B) adapted for storing data in blobs within containers in a flat file system utilizing a flat namespace; and a stream layer (214A, 214B) adapted for streaming blob data; a partition layer (212A, 212B) adapted for storing data in blobs within containers in a flat file system utilizing a flat namespace; and a stream layer (214A, 214B) adapted for streaming blob data; a hierarchical namespace service (104A, 104B) adapted for implementing file system functions on the data stored in the blobs, the file system functions including directory functions and file functions utilizing a hierarchical namespace, each directory being configured to include files and other directories as requested via the file system functions, each file being stored in one blob, wherein the hierarchical namespace service (104A, 104B) comprises a master directory table configured to identify files and directories within each directory, wherein performing a move of a directory or a file does not require moving or copying blobs; and a front end layer (210A, 210B) adapted for processing user requests to access and manage data stored on the blobs, the front end layer (210A, 210B) accessing the partition layer (212A, 212B) to access the blobs based on addresses of blobs, the front end layer (210A, 210B) accessing the hierarchical namespace service (104A, 104B) to identify the blobs, wherein the data stored on the blobs is accessible for user requests via both, the flat filename system and the hierarchical namespace service, and the storage system comprises a storage system API adapted for parsing the user requests utilizing the flat filename system, and a file system API adapted for parsing the user requests utilizing the hierarchical namespace, the data stored on the blobs is accessible for user requests via both, the flat filename system and the hierarchical namespace service, and the storage system comprises a storage system API adapted for parsing the user requests utilizing the flat filename system, and a file system API adapted for parsing the user requests utilizing the hierarchical namespace, wherein the hierarchical namespace service (104A, 104B) is adapted for receiving file system commands, mapping directories and files included in the requests into the blob addresses, and applying the file system commands against the blobs in the flat namespace according to the flat file system.