CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

Which of the following is considered an example of IaaS?

1. Providing productivity software for use over the internet

2. A multiuser program that is hosted by a third party

3. Providing hardware resources over the internet

4. A database that is hosted in the cloud

The correct answer is: Providing hardware resources over the internet

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) represents a cloud computing model where virtualized computing resources are provided over the internet. The correct answer highlights providing hardware resources—such as servers, storage, and networking—on-demand, allowing users to manage and control the underlying infrastructure while focusing on their applications. This model offers flexibility and scalability, enabling businesses to scale their infrastructure needs without investing heavily in physical hardware. In contrast, providing productivity software over the internet typically refers to Software as a Service (SaaS), where applications are delivered over the web without the need for installation. A multiuser program hosted by a third party may align more with platform or application hosting, rather than the raw infrastructure offered by IaaS. Lastly, a database hosted in the cloud can also be part of services provided by PaaS (Platform as a Service) or can incorporate a managed database service, but it does not reflect the core essence of IaaS, which focuses primarily on the provision of infrastructure components. Overall, the emphasis on providing hardware resources encapsulates the true nature of IaaS and the types of resources it includes.