CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

In which cloud service model does the provider manage everything except the application?

1. IaaS

2. PaaS

3. SaaS

4. CaaS

The correct answer is: PaaS

The choice of Platform as a Service (PaaS) as the correct answer is appropriate because, in this model, the cloud service provider manages the underlying infrastructure—including servers, storage, and networking—along with the runtime environment and middleware necessary for application development. This allows developers to focus solely on building and managing the application itself without having to worry about managing the server or storage resources, which are all handled by the provider. PaaS is specifically designed to facilitate the development, testing, and deployment of applications by providing a robust platform that includes development tools, database management systems, and other services. This model not only streamlines the work required to launch applications but also enhances scaling and maintenance efficiencies. In contrast, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides users with raw computing resources, including virtual machines and storage, but requires them to manage applications and operating systems themselves. Software as a Service (SaaS) offers fully managed applications delivered over the internet, leaving no application management to the user. Container as a Service (CaaS) focuses on container management and orchestration, which is more specialized than the broader application development support provided by PaaS. Thus, PaaS is the most fitting model for the scenario described.