1. A method for copying files or data objects from a first data storage system located at a first location to a second data storage system located at a second location that is geographically remote from the first location, the method comprising: receiving at a first data storage system a file or data object from a first computing system, wherein the first data storage system and the first computing system are located at a first location; determining whether an instance of the received file or data object is already stored in the first data storage system by performing a match of a substantially unique identifier that represents the received file or data object to substantially unique identifiers that represent files or data objects already stored in the first data system; storing the received file or data object in the first data storage system when the substantially unique identifier that represents the received file or data object does not match one or more of the substantially unique identifiers that represent the files or data objects already stored in the first data system; and transmitting the files and data objects stored in the first data storage system to the second data storage system that is located at the second location.