Various embodiments for protecting data segments by a processor device in a computing environment, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises, if an error occurs during a replication operation from a source location to a destination location causing at least one of a plurality of data segments to be deleted in the source location, performing: executing a failback operation by a reverse replication process from the destination location to the source location, and regaining ownership of the data segments by the source location; and pursuant to the failback operation, performing: enabling the reverse replication process if an owner of the data segments is a designated one of the destination location, and adding an invalid owner notification in a history table, wherein the failback operation is identified for the designated one of the at least one destination location.