What does the concept of “zoning” in SAN refer to?

Zoning in a Storage Area Network (SAN) is primarily a security measure that restricts access to devices within the SAN environment. This practice creates isolated zones within the network. By doing so, specific devices or hosts are given access only to particular storage resources, while others are excluded from accessing those resources. This limits the potential for unauthorized access and enhances data security by ensuring that only designated servers or initiators can connect to certain targets in the SAN.

With zoning, administrators can control which devices can communicate with which storage resources, effectively managing and securing the data flows. This is especially important in environments where sensitive data is stored, as it reduces the risk of data breaches or inadvertent disruptions caused by misconfigured systems or devices.

The other options provided do not accurately describe zoning. While data verification, performance analysis, and backup scheduling are crucial aspects of storage management, they are not the primary focus of zoning in a SAN context.