What is one of the main limitations of DAS as compared to shared storage?

The correct answer highlights a crucial aspect of Direct Attached Storage (DAS): the presence of a single point of failure. In a DAS setup, the storage is directly connected to a single server, which means that if that server fails, access to the data on the DAS becomes impossible for any other system or process. This creates a critical vulnerability, as all data is reliant on the operational status of that one server.

In contrast, shared storage solutions, such as Network Attached Storage (NAS) or Storage Area Networks (SAN), often provide redundancy and failover options, allowing multiple servers to access the storage. This redundancy helps to mitigate the risk of total data inaccessibility, increasing the resilience and availability of data.

Other choices, while they may represent valid points in different contexts, do not capture the specific and significant risk associated with DAS. Higher costs might be more relevant to certain types of shared storage, while performance can sometimes be advantageous in DAS scenarios due to direct connections. Limited deployment options can also reflect configurations of shared storage systems rather than encapsulating the inherent limitation of DAS in the same clear manner.