A method of performing a real time optimized backup from a first computer storage device to a second or backup computer storage device, is disclosed. The method comprises two different approaches of backing up a first computer file stored on the first computer storage device to be backed up to a second computer file stored on the second computer storage device. The two approaches are instant replication and lazy replication. The method may include analyzing one or more first computer file activities and determining a set of end results achieved by the one or more first computer file activities; and executing a second computer file backup process that achieves substantially the same set of end results as the first computer file backup process, but with fewer steps.