Efficient execution of I/O operations in a storage environment

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• a processing device operably coupled to the memory, configured to:
• receive, by a storage controller, an incoming input/output (I/O) operation having an associated priority that can be serviced by a storage device while one or more pending operations are to be processed using the storage device;
• determine, based on an analysis by the storage controller of an operational state of a storage system and the priority of the incoming I/O operation whether processing the one or more pending operations is faster than issuing an alternative operation to service the incoming I/O operation;
• and
• in response to determining that the one or more pending operations is faster, issue, by the storage controller, one or more instructions to the storage device that cause the storage device to service the incoming I/O operation.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processing device to:

• receive, by a storage controller, an incoming input/output (I/O) operation having an associated priority that can be serviced by a storage device while one or more pending operations are to be processed using the storage device;
• determine, based on an analysis by the storage controller of an operational state of a storage system and the priority of the incoming I/O operation whether processing the one or more pending operations is faster than issuing an alternative operation to service the incoming I/O operation;
• and
• in response to determining that processing the one or more pending operations is faster, issue, by the storage controller, one or more instructions to the storage device that cause the storage device to service the incoming I/O operation.