A networked computer system provides a way to quickly switch to a backup data center when a primary data center fails. Each data center includes a redirect table that specifies a geographical area corresponding to each user. The redirect table is replicated on one or more data centers so that each data center has the same information. When a data center fails, the redirect table in one of the non-failed data centers is updated to specify a new data center for each client that used the failed data center as its primary data center. A network dispatcher recognizes that the failed data center is unavailable, and routes a request to the backup data center. Network routing logic then issues a redirection command that causes all subsequent requests from that client to be redirected directly to the backup data center.