What type of data flow contrasts with east-west data flows in a network?

North-south data flows refer to the movement of data between external sources and internal network resources, typically involving interactions between a client (like a user or device) and a server. This contrasts with east-west data flows, which occur within the data center, where data moves horizontally between servers and network devices in response to internal processes and applications.

The distinction is crucial in understanding network architecture and security dynamics. North-south traffic typically involves more external threats as it requires handling data from outside the organization, whereas east-west traffic may focus on internal threats, requiring different security measures.

This differentiation is vital for designing network security policies, firewall rules, and monitoring strategies, where the characteristics of the data flow can dictate the approach toward protecting sensitive information and resources within the network.