Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)Describe cloud conceptsMedium
A global e-commerce company needs to deploy its applications in a cloud environment that offers the highest possible level of control over the operating system, virtual network configuration, and installed software, while still leveraging virtualization. They are willing to manage these components themselves. Which cloud service type provides this level of control?
- APlatform as a Service (PaaS)
- BSoftware as a Service (SaaS)
- CServerless Computing
- DInfrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
IaaS offers customers the highest level of control over cloud resources, allowing them to manage the operating system, virtual networks, and installed software. The cloud provider handles the underlying physical infrastructure, but the customer retains significant control over the virtualized environment.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. PaaS abstracts away OS and network management to focus on application deployment.
- B. SaaS provides a complete application with minimal customer control.
- C. Serverless computing abstracts even more than PaaS, removing server management entirely.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
A cloud service model where the provider manages the underlying infrastructure (physical servers, networking, virtualization), and the customer manages operating systems, applications, and data. It offers the most control to the customer among cloud service models.
- Highest level of customer control over OS, middleware, and applications.
- Customer is responsible for patching and securing the OS.
- Often used for 'lift-and-shift' migrations of existing workloads.
- Examples: Virtual Machines, Virtual Networks, raw storage.
Memory trick: IaaS gives you the keys to the virtual car, you drive the OS and apps.