CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

Which model means the cloud provider manages hardware but not the operating systems or applications?

1. Software as a Service

2. Platform as a Service

3. Infrastructure as a Service

4. Backup as a Service

The correct answer is: Infrastructure as a Service

The model where the cloud provider manages the hardware while the user is responsible for managing the operating systems and applications is known as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). In this model, the provider offers virtualized computing resources over the internet, which includes physical servers, storage, and networking components. Users have control over the operating systems and the applications they install, enabling them to customize their environments according to their specific needs. This level of control distinguishes IaaS from other models. For instance, in Software as a Service (SaaS), the provider manages everything, including applications and infrastructure, delivering fully functional software applications to users. In Platform as a Service (PaaS), the provider supplies both the infrastructure and the platform while allowing users to manage their applications without needing to handle the underlying hardware or operating systems. Backup as a Service (BaaS) is focused on data storage and backup solutions and does not address the management of operating systems or hardware in the same way that IaaS does. Understanding IaaS is pivotal as it offers a high level of flexibility and control for organizations looking to build and manage their applications and services in the cloud without the burden of physical hardware management.