Which factor does NOT impact capacity utilization in a storage system?

Capacity utilization in a storage system refers to how efficiently the storage resources are being used. Each of the other factors listed—snapshot frequency, retention policies, and data deduplication levels—directly influences how much of the storage capacity is consumed or how effectively it is used.

Snapshot frequency affects capacity utilization because each snapshot creates a point-in-time copy of the data, which consumes additional storage space. The more frequently snapshots are taken, the more storage capacity is needed.

Retention policies govern how long data is kept before being deleted or archived, influencing the overall capacity utilization. If retention policies require keeping large amounts of data for extended periods, this can lead to higher storage usage.

Data deduplication levels play a significant role in capacity utilization by reducing the amount of unique data stored. Effective deduplication can dramatically decrease the storage footprint, allowing for more efficient use of available space.

In contrast, user access levels do not directly affect the amount of capacity utilized within the storage system. Access levels determine who can read or write data but do not influence the actual storage requirements of the data itself. Therefore, this factor does not have an impact on capacity utilization, making it the correct choice.