What is the primary function of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)?

The primary function of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is to monitor dozens or hundreds of network devices. SNMP is widely used in network management for the collection and organization of information about managed devices on IP networks. This protocol enables network administrators to monitor performance, find and solve network problems, and plan for network growth.

SNMP facilitates communication between network devices, allowing the collection of performance data such as bandwidth usage, uptime, and operational status. By tracking these metrics, network administrators can ensure that the network is functioning optimally and can quickly respond to issues as they arise.

The other options do not accurately represent the core purpose of SNMP. For instance, while high-speed internet connectivity is important, it is not related to the management capabilities provided by SNMP. Additionally, SNMP does not provide direct user interfaces for users; instead, it operates in the background, utilizing management software to interpret the data it gathers. Lastly, SNMP itself does not offer encryption for data in transit, which is a different concern related to network security rather than device management.