diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/common_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/common_types.go
index c295eb77..10478440 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/common_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/common_types.go
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ type StorageSpec struct {
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MinLength=1
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxLength=63
 	Class string `json:"class,omitempty"`
+
+	// AccessModes contains the desired access modes the volume should have.
+	// More info: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/storage/persistent-volumes#access-modes
+	// +optional
+	AccessModes []corev1.PersistentVolumeAccessMode `json:"accessModes,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // ContainerConfig defines generic container configuration.
diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/shard_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/shard_types.go
index 123058be..37c0aea2 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/shard_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/shard_types.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=apps,resources=deployments;statefulsets,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;patch;delete
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=services,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;patch;delete
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=persistentvolumeclaims,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;patch;delete
+// +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=configmaps,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;patch;delete
 
 // ============================================================================
 // Shard Component Specs (Reusable)
@@ -77,13 +78,10 @@ type PoolSpec struct {
 	// +optional
 	Storage StorageSpec `json:"storage,omitempty"`
 
-	// BackupStorageType defines how backup storage is provided.
-	// Valid values are "hostPath" (for single-node testing) and "pvc" (for production).
-	// Defaults to "hostPath".
+	// BackupStorage defines the storage configuration for backup volumes.
+	// Shared across all pods in a pool. Defaults to same as Storage if not specified.
 	// +optional
-	// +kubebuilder:validation:Enum=hostPath;pvc
-	// +kubebuilder:default="hostPath"
-	BackupStorageType string `json:"backupStorageType,omitempty"`
+	BackupStorage StorageSpec `json:"backupStorage,omitempty"`
 
 	// Postgres container configuration.
 	// +optional
diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/api/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 07d8aeda..ec25e6a2 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ func (in *EtcdSpec) DeepCopyInto(out *EtcdSpec) {
 		*out = new(int32)
 		**out = **in
 	}
-	out.Storage = in.Storage
+	in.Storage.DeepCopyInto(&out.Storage)
 	in.Resources.DeepCopyInto(&out.Resources)
 }
 
@@ -757,7 +757,8 @@ func (in *PoolSpec) DeepCopyInto(out *PoolSpec) {
 		*out = new(int32)
 		**out = **in
 	}
-	out.Storage = in.Storage
+	in.Storage.DeepCopyInto(&out.Storage)
+	in.BackupStorage.DeepCopyInto(&out.BackupStorage)
 	in.Postgres.DeepCopyInto(&out.Postgres)
 	in.Multipooler.DeepCopyInto(&out.Multipooler)
 	if in.Affinity != nil {
@@ -1134,6 +1135,11 @@ func (in *StatelessSpec) DeepCopy() *StatelessSpec {
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *StorageSpec) DeepCopyInto(out *StorageSpec) {
 	*out = *in
+	if in.AccessModes != nil {
+		in, out := &in.AccessModes, &out.AccessModes
+		*out = make([]v1.PersistentVolumeAccessMode, len(*in))
+		copy(*out, *in)
+	}
 }
 
 // DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new StorageSpec.