SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/tech-cloud-iaas-control

Which cloud model lets the consumer run operating systems and applications?

Infrastructure as a Service, or IaaS, provides that control.

Start playing free

  1. Infrastructure as a Service ✔
  2. Platform as a Service
  3. Software as a Service

Why: IaaS provides fundamental resources such as processing, storage, and networks. The consumer can install operating systems and applications while the provider manages the underlying cloud infrastructure.

Huh, didn't know that: IaaS consumers may also have limited control over selected networking components such as host firewalls.

The dad joke
IaaS handed over the building blocks and said, infrastructure is yours.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Infrastructure as a Service. IaaS provides fundamental resources such as processing, storage, and networks. The consumer can install operating systems and applications while the provider manages the underlying cloud infrastructure.

  1. NIST SP 800-145: The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication800-145.pdf
    the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Tech & GadgetsIn PaaS, what does the consumer control?Tech & GadgetsWhat does a SaaS consumer primarily use?Tech & GadgetsHow many bytes are in one kibibyte (KiB)?

That's stuff everyone should know.