What is a primary function of the NetApp Cloud Tiering service?

The primary function of the NetApp Cloud Tiering service is to tier inactive data objects to cloud storage. This means that the service intelligently moves data that is not actively being used from high-cost, on-premises storage to lower-cost cloud storage options. This process helps organizations optimize their storage costs and manage their data more efficiently by ensuring that only actively used data remains on the more expensive local storage systems.

By automating the tiering process, Cloud Tiering allows businesses to take advantage of the scalability and cost-effectiveness of cloud storage solutions while maintaining easy access to their data when needed. This functionality is particularly useful in scenarios where data access patterns are unpredictable, as it helps in freeing up space for active workloads and reduces the overall storage footprint.

The other options do not capture the essence of what Cloud Tiering does. While data migration and syncing might involve aspects of data movement, they do not specifically focus on the tiering of inactive data to optimize storage costs. Similarly, providing on-premises storage solutions focuses on local infrastructure rather than leveraging the benefits of cloud storage for tiered data management.