What type of storage does a NOS typically provide?

A Network Operating System (NOS) typically provides a central repository of user accounts, which is integral to its functionality. This central repository allows for effective management of user identities and their corresponding access rights across the network. By using this centralized structure, administrators can efficiently handle user authentication, permissions, and account management, ensuring that resources are accessible to authorized users while maintaining security and organization.

The other options, while related to data storage in various contexts, do not accurately reflect the role of a NOS. External hard drives and local storage are primarily concerned with physical storage solutions and do not focus on the coordinated network services a NOS provides. Cloud storage may complement network services, but it is not exclusive to a NOS and does not serve as the fundamental purpose of managing user accounts within a network. Therefore, the central repository of user accounts aligns most closely with the core functions of a Network Operating System.