what is the key advantage that sets a distributed ledger apart from a centralized server

The key advantage that sets a distributed ledger apart from a centralized server is decentralization. In a centralized system, there is a central point of control or failure, making it more vulnerable to attacks and system-wide failures. On the other hand, distributed ledgers are not controlled by a single body, and each node has a copy of the ledger. Any modifications to the ledger must be validated and approved by the network before they are saved, increasing transparency, accountability, security, and trustworthiness of the data. Additionally, distributed ledgers are less prone to cybercrime because all the copies stored across the network need to be attacked simultaneously for the attack to be successful. The peer-to-peer sharing and updating of records also make the whole process much faster, more effective, and cheaper.