What is the impact of latency on network performance monitored by Palo Alto Networks?

High latency can negatively affect application performance because it increases the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination and back. In networking, latency refers to the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer. When latency is high, applications that rely on real-time interactions, such as video conferencing, online gaming, and VoIP, experience lag or disruption, which can severely impact the user experience.

Applications that require quick responsiveness, like financial trading platforms or transactional systems, are particularly sensitive to latency. They depend on swift data transfer to function effectively, and any delay can lead to a significant drop in performance and user satisfaction. Monitoring tools provided by Palo Alto Networks help in assessing latency levels within the network, enabling administrators to identify and address issues that could lead to increased latency, thereby maintaining optimal application performance.

The other options do not accurately reflect the relationship between latency and network performance; for example, suggesting that high latency improves application performance or has no effect at all does not align with how network dynamics actually function. Low latency concerns are not limited only to voice applications, as multiple types of services also benefit greatly from minimal delays.