File Server Structure

I need to restructure our files. Right now we are keeping so many duplicated files because of the difficulty of our remote offices retrieiving and sending files up to our main office. It has become a nightmare. We have a VPN over DSL but the backup takes 5 days! We are not that big of a company and I use Veritas with a 5 cartridge autochanger.

My goal is to find a good way to keep files local that are used regularly (have them archive other files to the main file server up here monthly). However, I don’t know of a good way to keep the back up centralized and the file structure to maintain any semblance of organization.

Any help would be appreciated.

C