In a method for determining a primary storage device and a secondary storage device for copies of data, one or more processors determine metrics data for at least two storage devices in a computing environment. The one or more processors adjust the metrics data. The one or more processors determine an I/O throughput value based on the adjusted metrics data for each of the at least two storage devices. The one or more processors compare the determined I/O throughput values for each of the at least two storage devices. The one or more processors select a storage device of the at least two storage devices with the lowest determined I/O throughput as a primary storage device.