Which statement is NOT a characteristic of a distributed database?

• A. Centralized data processing
• B. Data is distributed across multiple sites
• C. Improved scalability
• D. Data access and processing are faster

Answer: (D)

A distributed database spreads data across multiple sites, enabling local access and parallel processing, which helps with scalability and resilience. Centralized data processing runs counter to this idea, since the system distributes both data and work rather than funneling everything through a single center. Improved scalability is a natural result of distributing data and workload across many locations. However, faster data access and processing isn’t guaranteed in a distributed setup: network latency, data fragmentation, and the need to coordinate across sites can actually slow some operations. Because speed isn’t inherent to distributed databases, the statement that data access and processing are faster isn’t a defining feature.