The claimed subject matter relates to systems and/or methodologies that facilitate intelligent distribution of backup information across storage locations in network-based backup architectures. A virtual layering of backup information across storage locations in the backup architecture can be implemented. Statistical models are utilized to dynamically re-allocate backup information among storage locations and/or layers to ensure availability of data, minimum latency upon restore, and minimum bandwidth utilization upon restore. In addition, heuristics or machine learning techniques can be applied to proactively detect failures or other changes in storage locations such that backup information can be reallocated accordingly prior to a failure.