Which protocol allows applications to access files or resources at a remote server?

Server Message Block (SMB) is a network protocol primarily used for providing shared access to files and devices such as printers across a network. SMB allows applications to read and write to files and request services from server programs in a computer network. This protocol facilitates the sharing of files and resources, making it possible for applications to interact with resources located on remote servers as if they were on a local system.

SMB operates at the application layer and is widely used in various operating systems, especially in Windows environments, to enable file sharing and communication between different systems. Its versatility and efficiency in managing permissions and accessing files make it a fundamental choice for accessing remote resources.

The other protocols, while they have specific uses, do not directly align with the primary function of accessing files or resources on remote servers in the same manner as SMB. For example, FTP is explicitly designed for file transfer but is typically not used for real-time file access like SMB. HTTP serves as a foundation for data communication on the web, but it does not traditionally operate as a file access protocol in the same context. NFS is another file sharing protocol, primarily designed for UNIX/Linux environments, but it functions differently than SMB in terms of remote file access. Thus, SMB stands out as