Which option is essential for improving data retrieval times in OLTP workloads?

High I/O storage configurations are crucial for enhancing data retrieval times in Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) workloads. OLTP systems are characterized by a high volume of short, transactional queries that require quick access to data. In this context, high input/output operations per second (IOPS) are necessary to ensure that the system can handle numerous simultaneous transactions without delays.

When using high I/O storage configurations, organizations can benefit from faster read and write speeds, which directly improves the response times for transactions. This is particularly important in scenarios where speed and efficiency are paramount, such as in banking and e-commerce applications, where delays can lead to poor user experiences and impact overall business performance.

While other options, such as storage compression, data redundancy, and data archiving, may have their respective advantages in data management and storage efficiency, they do not specifically target the immediate performance enhancements needed for OLTP workloads. Redundancy, for instance, enhances reliability but does not inherently speed up data retrieval. Thus, high I/O storage configurations stand out as the option most directly aligned with the performance needs of OLTP environments.