A ____ system is a storage device connected to a network that allows storage and retrieval of data from a centralized location for authorized network users.

A ____ system is a storage device connected to a network that allows storage and retrieval of data from a centralized location for authorized network users.

• A. Network-Attached Storage (NAS)
• B. Direct Attached Storage (DAS)
• C. Storage Area Network (SAN)
• D. Cloud Storage

Answer: (A)

Centralized file storage reachable by many users over a local network is provided by a dedicated storage device called Network-Attached Storage. A NAS lives on the network and offers shared access to files for authorized users, using standard file-sharing protocols so people can read and write data from different computers easily. This setup simplifies management—one centralized place to store, back up, and control access to data—while still giving each user the appropriate permissions. Direct Attached Storage attaches to a single computer, so its storage isn’t readily shared across the network. A Storage Area Network delivers block-level storage to servers over a dedicated network, which is more about performance and server-to-storage blocks than simple centralized file sharing for end users. Cloud storage lives offsite on the Internet and isn’t a device connected to your local network. NAS best fits the idea of a storage device on the network that serves centralized data storage to authorized users.

Centralized file storage reachable by many users over a local network is provided by a dedicated storage device called Network-Attached Storage. A NAS lives on the network and offers shared access to files for authorized users, using standard file-sharing protocols so people can read and write data from different computers easily. This setup simplifies management—one centralized place to store, back up, and control access to data—while still giving each user the appropriate permissions.

Direct Attached Storage attaches to a single computer, so its storage isn’t readily shared across the network. A Storage Area Network delivers block-level storage to servers over a dedicated network, which is more about performance and server-to-storage blocks than simple centralized file sharing for end users. Cloud storage lives offsite on the Internet and isn’t a device connected to your local network. NAS best fits the idea of a storage device on the network that serves centralized data storage to authorized users.