Aspects include receiving a notification that a value of a data element stored in a source storage location in a source format has been changed to an updated value. The change is replicated to a plurality of target storage locations. The replicating includes, for each of the plurality of target storage locations, determining a target format of the data element in the target storage location. The target format is one of a plurality of different formats, including the source format. Each of the different formats provide a different level of data protection for the data element. In response to determining that the target format is not the same as the source format, the updated value of the data element is converted into the target format, and the updated value of the data element is stored in the target format at the target storage location.