How does 'load balancing' benefit a network?

Load balancing benefits a network primarily by optimizing resource use across multiple servers. In a networked environment, especially one that involves multiple servers handling requests from users, load balancing distributes incoming network traffic efficiently across several servers. This ensures that no single server becomes overwhelmed with too many requests, which can lead to slowdowns or even server failures.

By utilizing load balancing, a network can achieve higher levels of performance and availability. When resources are used effectively, it can lead to quicker response times for users, better utilization of server resources, and increased fault tolerance. If one server fails, the load balancer can redirect traffic to other operational servers, thereby maintaining service continuity.

The other options do not relate directly to the primary purpose of load balancing. For instance, while establishing a private network is related to security and access management, it does not pertain to how resources are allocated across servers. Increasing network latency is counterproductive to what load balancing aims to achieve since the goal is to improve performance. Improving data encryption is also unrelated, as load balancing focuses on traffic distribution rather than data security measures.