A storage replication service is a managed service in which stored or archived data is duplicated in real time over a storage area network (SAN). Other terms for this type of service include file replication, data replication, and remote storage replication. The expression can also refer to a program or suite that facilitates such duplication.
A storage replication service provides an extra measure of redundancy that can be invaluable if the main storage backup system fails. Immediate access to the replicated data minimizes downtime and its associated costs. The service, if properly implemented, can streamline disaster recovery processes by generating duplicate copies of all backed-up files on a continuous basis. It can also speed up and simplify recovery from a natural or human-caused disaster such as a fire, flood, hurricane, virus, or worm.