Data replication is becoming a much discussed topic these days.  With the dollars being spent on data replication topping one billion  dollars last year and only projected to increase, one has to ask  why? There has been a huge increase in the amount of missioncritical  data needing to be stored, as well as growing concerns  amid new regulations regarding data availability. As a result,  disaster recovery and business continuance initiatives are leading  IT managers to investigate new, more cost effective technologies.  They are now looking to adopt data replication as an essential  component of disaster protection as well as to enhance other  initiatives such as reducing backup costs, resource consolidation  and data migration.

With dozens of data replication products to choose from, how do you choose the right technology to match to your particular business need? The answer lies in first understanding the different types of data replication technologies available and their strengths and weaknesses. Then second, know what it is you are trying to accomplish, so that you can match the right technology to the business need. Finally, decide if you can afford the technology you have chosen. For example, are you looking to data replication to provide a mirror of your data for business continuance? If so, how long can your application afford to be out of service? Seconds, minutes or hours? If seconds, then be prepared to pay the maximum amount, as the technologies are usually tied to storage hardware. If you can afford recovery times of minutes or hours, then your choices widen, allowing your IT dollars to go farther.