Optimized Flash-based cache

Embodiments of the invention relate to the restriction of access to a flash memory device. The flash memory device is part of a memory system that includes the flash memory device and a second storage device, the throttling is performed by the logic outside the flash memory device, and includes calculating a throttling factor responsive to an estimated remaining life of the flash memory device , It is determined whether the throttling factor exceeds a threshold. Data is written in response to the determination that the throttling factor does not exceed the threshold value to the flash memory device. Data, in response to the determination that the throttling factor exceeds the threshold value, written to the second storage device.