What does IaaS provide?

IaaS, or Infrastructure as a Service, provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. This means that users can access and manage essential technology infrastructure such as servers, storage, and networking on a pay-as-you-go basis. IaaS enables users to scale their resources up or down as needed, which is particularly beneficial for businesses that may experience fluctuating workloads. It allows companies to avoid the costs and complexities associated with maintaining their own physical servers and data centers.

The other options describe different cloud service models. For instance, ready-made backend features are typically associated with PaaS (Platform as a Service), which provides a platform allowing developers to build and deploy applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. Development tools on subscription relate more to SaaS (Software as a Service) or specialized development environments. Lastly, access to software applications is a core characteristic of SaaS, where software is delivered over the internet, eliminating the need for local installations. Thus, the characteristics that define IaaS emphasize its role in providing virtualized resources that facilitate IT operations without the overhead of physical hardware management.