What is the main advantage of using a SAN over a NAS?

The primary advantage of using a Storage Area Network (SAN) over a Network Attached Storage (NAS) is higher performance. SANs are designed to provide block-level storage, which enables faster data access and reduced latency compared to NAS systems that provide file-level access. This architecture allows servers to communicate directly with storage devices over a dedicated network, optimizing throughput and improving performance for applications requiring high-speed data processing, such as databases and transaction-heavy workloads.

In addition, SANs can scale to accommodate larger storage needs and can be configured for high availability, which further enhances performance in enterprise environments. The specialized network used by SANs also minimizes bottlenecks commonly encountered in NAS systems, particularly when multiple servers access storage concurrently. Therefore, the emphasis on performance makes SAN a more suitable choice for environments where speed and efficiency are critical.