Systems and methods for protecting data in a tiered storage system are
provided. The storage system comprises a management server, a media
management component connected to the management server, a plurality of
storage media connected to the media management component, and a data
source connected to the media management component. Source data is copied
from a source to a buffer to produce intermediate data. The intermediate
data is copied to both a first and second medium to produce a primary and
auxiliary copy, respectively. An auxiliary copy may be made from another
auxiliary copy. An auxiliary copy may also be made from a primary copy
right before the primary copy is pruned.