CLF-C02 Cloud Concepts Practice Question
A small startup wants to launch a new application on AWS without any upfront investment in servers. Which cloud computing deployment model allows them to use AWS infrastructure without owning any physical hardware?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse 'public cloud' with 'hybrid cloud' because they think hybrid also avoids hardware ownership, but hybrid typically requires some on-premises or dedicated infrastructure, failing the 'no physical hardware' condition.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Public cloud
The public cloud deployment model, such as AWS, provides on-demand access to shared computing resources over the internet, allowing the startup to provision virtual servers (e.g., EC2 instances) and other services without any upfront capital expenditure or ownership of physical hardware. This model is ideal for startups because it offers a pay-as-you-go pricing structure, eliminating the need for server procurement, maintenance, and data center management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Private cloud
Why it's wrong here
A private cloud provides dedicated cloud-like services to a single organization, whether it is built on premises, in a colocation facility, or in a dedicated hosted environment. The organization retains responsibility for the underlying compute, storage, and networking infrastructure, which means significant capital expenditure and ongoing operational overhead unless an external vendor manages it under a contract. It still does not eliminate hardware ownership because the environment is isolated and used exclusively by one organization; it also lacks the broad, elastic, shared resource pool of public cloud.
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Hybrid cloud
Why it's wrong here
A hybrid cloud deliberately integrates an organization's on-premises or private cloud environment with one or more public clouds, enabling workload portability and data sharing across the two. Because the architecture necessarily retains a private, self-managed component, the organization still invests in and maintains its own hardware, even if it offloads some work to a public provider for elastic scaling. It therefore does not provide the complete avoidance of upfront infrastructure costs that a pure public cloud deployment offers; you are still responsible for the on-premises side of the equation.
- ✓
Public cloud
Why this is correct
The public cloud, exemplified by AWS, delivers compute, storage, and networking services over the internet from a provider's shared, multi-tenant infrastructure, with no requirement for users to purchase or maintain physical hardware. Resources are provisioned on demand via APIs or consoles, typically in minutes, and are billed on a metered, pay-as-you-go basis, allowing organizations to scale up or down without forecasting capacity. This model shifts IT spending from capital expenditure (buying servers) to operational expenditure (paying for use), which is exactly why it is the correct answer to this deployment model question.
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Community cloud
Why it's wrong here
Community cloud is a shared infrastructure model for a specific community of organizations that have common compliance, security, or regulatory concerns (e.g., healthcare or government agencies). Unlike a public cloud, access is restricted to that community, and the underlying hardware is often owned, operated, or contracted by one or more members, so avoiding upfront hardware procurement is not guaranteed. It might be hosted by a third party, but the community still bears the cost of design, deployment, and operation, making it different from the full on-demand, no-CapEx model of a public cloud.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CLF-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which cloud deployment model involves running applications on AWS infrastructure managed entirely by AWS, where the customer does not manage any physical hardware?
medium- A.Private cloud
- B.Hybrid cloud
- ✓ C.Public cloud
- D.Community cloud
Why C: The public cloud deployment model is defined by infrastructure that is owned, managed, and maintained by a third-party cloud provider (in this case, AWS). The customer has no responsibility for the physical hardware, such as servers, storage, or networking equipment, and accesses resources on-demand via the internet. This matches the scenario where AWS manages everything, and the customer only interacts with virtualized services.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CLF-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CLF-C02 exam.