220-1101 Question 367
Single answer4.2 Summarize cloud computing concepts.A small accounting firm wants to stop maintaining its own file server because the hardware is aging and backups are inconsistent. The owner wants employees to access shared documents from the office and from home, while the cloud provider manages the storage hardware and underlying infrastructure. However, the firm still wants to control its own user permissions and folder organization. Which cloud computing model best fits this requirement?
- A
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- B
Software as a Service (SaaS)
- C
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- D
Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The best answer is Software as a Service (SaaS). In a SaaS model, the provider manages the application, servers, storage platform, maintenance, and updates, while the customer typically manages its own data and user access within the application. That aligns with the firm's goal of replacing an on-premises file server with a provider-managed cloud solution. By contrast, IaaS would require the firm to maintain more of the server environment, and PaaS is intended for application development rather than end-user file sharing. DaaS provides hosted desktops, not primarily shared file storage. This distinction is consistent with common cloud service model definitions used by CompTIA and industry guidance such as NIST cloud computing concepts, where SaaS delivers a complete application, PaaS delivers a development platform, and IaaS delivers virtualized infrastructure.
- A. Incorrect.
IaaS is incorrect because it provides virtualized computing resources such as virtual machines, storage, and networking, but the customer is still responsible for managing the operating system, file services, and much of the server configuration. In this scenario, the firm wants to stop maintaining the server platform itself, so IaaS would still leave too much administrative responsibility with the customer.
- B. Correct.
SaaS is correct because the accounting firm wants a provider-hosted file-sharing solution where the vendor manages the application and underlying infrastructure, while the firm manages its own users, permissions, and data organization. This matches common SaaS offerings such as cloud-based file storage and collaboration platforms. SaaS is appropriate when the organization wants to consume a complete application rather than build and maintain the server environment.
- C. Incorrect.
PaaS is incorrect because PaaS is designed primarily for application development and deployment. It gives developers a managed platform for building and hosting custom applications without managing the full underlying infrastructure. The accounting firm is not trying to develop a custom file-sharing application; it simply wants to use an existing hosted service.
- D. Incorrect.
DaaS is incorrect because Desktop as a Service delivers hosted virtual desktops to end users. That model is useful when an organization wants cloud-hosted desktop environments, but it does not specifically address the firm's need for a managed file-sharing application. Someone might choose this option because employees need remote access, but remote access alone does not make DaaS the best fit.