Applying a probability function to avoid storage operations for already-deleted data

A method comprises:

• receiving, by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), a delete request for a data element, wherein the data element is stored in one or more storage units of the DSN;
• determining, by the computing device, to be in a state of queued delete request processing;
• adding, by the computing device, an intent to delete to a delete log for the data element;
• receiving, by the computing device, a data access request regarding the data element;
• performing, by the computing device, a probability function to determine a likelihood that the intent to delete is in the delete log;
• when the probability function indicates that the intent to delete is definitely not in the delete log, executing, by the computing device, the data access request regarding the data element;
• and
• when the probability function indicates the intent to delete is probably in the delete log:
• accessing, by the computing device, the delete log to determine whether the intent to delete is in the delete log;
• when the intent to delete is in the delete log, skipping, by the computing device, the data access request;
• and
• when the intent to delete is not in the delete log, executing, by the computing device, the data access request.