Implementations of the present invention provide systems, methods, and components configured to preserve valid shadow copies during replication cycles, before those valid shadow copies have expired. In particular, one or more components can identify the size and rate of changes in production server data that will be applied to a new volume shadow copy. The components can then determine the storage area that would be needed to store the new volume shadow copy in the backup volume and apply changes onto the backup volume if there is appropriate space. If there is not an appropriate amount of space, the components can alert the system that new action should be taken to preserve both prior, valid shadow copies as well as new shadow copies. For example, a backup administrator may need to increase the shadow copy storage space, or assign a new storage medium for handling new shadow copies.