The purpose of a storage area network (SAN) is to provide high-speed, reliable access to consolidated storage resources for multiple servers and applications. SANs connect servers to storage devices through a dedicated network, allowing for efficient data management and retrieval. This setup enhances performance and scalability, making it ideal for environments that require large-scale data processing, such as virtualization, database management, and enterprise applications. SANs segregate storage traffic from regular network traffic, reducing congestion and optimizing resource utilization. Additionally, they facilitate features like data replication and backups, crucial for maintaining data integrity and supporting disaster recovery plans.