Zoning

(z n ing) (n.) The process of allocating resources in a SAN to load balance the devices connected to the network. Zoning allows the network administrator to separate the SAN into units and allocate storage to those units based on need. Zoning protects the SAN system from such threats as viruses, data corruption and malicious hackers as the devices in their respective zones are not able to communicate outside the zone through their ports unless given permission.