Master Splunk Fundamentals 2026 – Ace the 1st Test with Flair!

The indexer is the key component in Splunk that is responsible for compressing and storing data in a way that optimizes both space and performance. When data is ingested into Splunk, the indexer processes it, applies data compression, and writes it to disk in a compressed format. This compression significantly reduces the amount of storage space needed and improves read and write performance.

While users do have some control over data retention policies and how data is archived, the actual tasks of compressing and archiving are handled automatically by the indexer as part of its core functionality. Additionally, the search head is primarily focused on executing search queries and does not manage data storage, while forwarders are used for data ingestion. Thus, the correct answer reflects a misunderstanding regarding how Splunk automates the management of data compression and archiving. In fact, the system itself manages this effectively without requiring manual intervention from users.