What is the function of ‘saved searches’ in Splunk?

Saved searches in Splunk are a powerful feature that allows users to preserve specific search queries for future use. This functionality is especially useful in scenarios where a search query needs to be run multiple times, allowing the user to avoid re-typing the search string each time they want to retrieve the same data.

By saving a search, users can also schedule these searches to run at specified intervals. This can be helpful for proactive monitoring or reporting, as it allows the output of the search to be delivered via email or saved as a report automatically. The saved searches can also be configured to trigger alerts based on the results, enabling quicker responses to significant findings.

Other options such as storing raw event data permanently, creating real-time dashboards, or deleting unnecessary logs do not align with the primary purpose of saved searches. Storing raw data and managing logs involve different Splunk functionalities, while dashboards serve to visually present data, rather than to save search queries specifically. Thus, the distinction of saved searches as a tool for reusability and efficiency in executing previously run searches is what makes this choice the correct one.