Which type of network characteristic ensures that a system can continue to operate despite a failure of one of its components?

Fault tolerance is a critical network characteristic that enables a system to maintain operational capability even when one or more of its components fail. This feature is essential in ensuring that a network can provide uninterrupted service, which is particularly important for mission-critical applications where downtime can lead to significant issues.

The concept of fault tolerance involves redundancy, where critical components are duplicated or have alternatives available. For instance, if a power supply fails, a redundant power supply can take over, allowing the system to continue functioning without noticeable disruption. Similarly, in network design, if a router or switch goes down, traffic can be rerouted through alternative paths or devices, maintaining connectivity.

In contrast, quality of service pertains to the management and prioritization of data traffic to ensure performance standards; scalability refers to the ability to expand a network's capacity or capabilities; and performance monitoring involves assessing the health and efficiency of a network, but none of these directly address the ability to withstand component failures as fault tolerance does.