What is the key function of using a Storage Area Network (SAN)?

The key function of using a Storage Area Network (SAN) is primarily focused on data storage and management. A SAN is designed to provide a high-speed, dedicated network that connects multiple storage devices to servers, allowing for efficient data storage, retrieval, and management.

By segregating storage resources from the typical network infrastructure, a SAN enhances the performance and availability of data storage, allowing organizations to manage large quantities of data effectively. SANs enable features such as data redundancy, backup, and recovery processes, and they facilitate multi-server access to storage, thereby improving data availability for applications that require high performance.

While network segmentation, packet filtering, and web hosting are critical components of network security and overall IT infrastructure management, they do not capture the primary purpose of a SAN, which is all about optimizing and centralizing storage resources.