A method is provided for replicating data. All nodes coupled to a source node via a network are surveyed to determine candidate replication nodes, and coordinates for each candidate replication node are acquired. The coordinates are used to determine a geographic location of and a communication cost for each candidate replication node. Each geographic location is rated based on probability of a concurrent failure of the source node and the candidate replication node, and a branch-and-bound algorithm is used to assign values to sets of candidate replication nodes based on the communication costs and the ratings. One set of candidate replication nodes is selected based on the assigned values. The data is replicated on the nodes of the selected set of candidate replication nodes, and all nodes coupled to the source node via the network are at least periodically monitored to determine availability of new nodes.