220-1101 Virtualization and Cloud Computing Practice Question
A company is migrating its on-premises web servers to the cloud. They want to maintain full control over the operating system, web server software, and security configurations, but they do not want to manage the underlying physical hardware, storage, or network infrastructure. Which cloud service model best meets these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between PaaS and IaaS by emphasizing that PaaS abstracts the OS and runtime, so candidates mistakenly choose PaaS when they hear 'control over software,' forgetting that PaaS does not grant control over the OS or web server software itself.
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
✓
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, allowing the company to deploy and manage their own operating systems, web server software, and security configurations while the cloud provider handles the underlying physical hardware, storage, and network infrastructure. This matches the requirement for full control over the OS and software stack without managing physical components.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Why it's wrong here
SaaS offers a complete, ready-to-use application accessed through a browser or API, with the provider owning the entire stack from infrastructure through OS and application code. The customer interacts only with the application's user interface and cannot install custom web server software or control the hosting OS. This fails the requirement to migrate existing on-premises web servers, which need full OS-level management and server software installation.
When this WOULD be correct
A company wants to use a web-based email system like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace without managing any underlying infrastructure, OS, or software. They only need to configure user accounts and settings.
- ✗
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why it's wrong here
PaaS abstracts away the OS, runtime, and middleware, letting the customer deploy application code within a predefined managed environment. While it can host web apps, the provider patches and manages the underlying OS, so the company would lose the ability to configure the kernel, install system-level libraries, or adjust server software beyond the platform's constraints. This contradicts the need for full control over the operating system.
When this WOULD be correct
A company wants to deploy a custom web application without managing the underlying OS, runtime, or middleware, but needs to control the application and data. PaaS would be correct because it abstracts the platform while allowing application-level control.
- ✓
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Why this is correct
IaaS supplies virtualized compute, storage, and networking as raw infrastructure, leaving the customer in full control of the guest OS, web server software, and all configuration. The provider only maintains the physical hosts and hypervisors, so the company can migrate its existing on-premises web servers without rewriting applications or changing OS-level settings. This matches the requirement to manage the OS and applications directly.
- ✗
Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
Why it's wrong here
DaaS delivers virtual desktops to end users' devices, with the provider managing the desktop OS and user session environment. It focuses on remote client access, not on hosting server workloads; there is no provision for running a web server with root/admin control over a dedicated server OS. Migrating on-premises web servers to DaaS would provide no compute infrastructure for those services.
When this WOULD be correct
A company wants to provide remote desktop access to employees with standardized virtual desktops, avoiding management of physical hardware and OS, while ensuring security and compliance. DaaS would be correct when the goal is desktop virtualization, not server hosting.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
IaaS supplies virtualized compute, storage, and networking as raw infrastructure, leaving the customer in full control of the guest OS, web server software, and all configuration. The provider only maintains the physical hosts and hypervisors, so the company can migrate its existing on-premises web servers without rewriting applications or changing OS-level settings. This matches the requirement to manage the OS and applications directly.
✗Software as a Service (SaaS)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SaaS provides ready-to-use software accessed via the internet, where the provider manages everything including the OS and application. The company needs full control over the OS and web server software, which SaaS does not allow.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company wants to use a web-based email system like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace without managing any underlying infrastructure, OS, or software. They only need to configure user accounts and settings.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'cloud migration' with simply moving to a cloud-based application, not realizing that the requirement for OS control excludes SaaS.
✗Platform as a Service (PaaS)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
PaaS provides a managed platform where the cloud provider handles the OS and middleware, but the company wants full control over the OS and web server software, which PaaS does not allow.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company wants to deploy a custom web application without managing the underlying OS, runtime, or middleware, but needs to control the application and data. PaaS would be correct because it abstracts the platform while allowing application-level control.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse PaaS with IaaS, thinking that PaaS still offers OS control, or they may focus on the 'no hardware management' aspect without realizing PaaS restricts OS-level access.
✗Desktop as a Service (DaaS)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DaaS delivers virtual desktops to end users, not control over OS and web server software for hosting applications. The question requires managing OS and web server, which DaaS does not provide.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company wants to provide remote desktop access to employees with standardized virtual desktops, avoiding management of physical hardware and OS, while ensuring security and compliance. DaaS would be correct when the goal is desktop virtualization, not server hosting.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'Desktop as a Service' with a cloud service that offers control over the OS, not realizing DaaS is for virtual desktops, not server infrastructure.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Key term
Operating system
An operating system (OS) is the core software that manages a computer's hardware and software resources, providing common services for computer programs.
Key term
Anything As A Service
A model where you rent any IT resource or service over the internet instead of owning it.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1101 exam.