easyMultiple Select
CV0-004 Practice Question: A cloud administrator is planning a migration of…
A cloud administrator is planning a migration of on-premises workloads to the cloud. Which TWO factors should be considered when selecting the appropriate cloud service model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that security compliance or scalability are primary factors for service model selection, when in fact they are operational requirements that apply across all models, while control over the OS and runtime is the key differentiator.
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
✓
The level of control required over the operating system and runtime environment.
Option B is correct because the cloud service model is fundamentally chosen based on how much control the organization needs over the OS and runtime: IaaS gives full OS/runtime control, PaaS abstracts the OS and runtime, and SaaS abstracts nearly everything, so this factor directly drives the IaaS/PaaS/SaaS decision. Option D is correct because PaaS suitability hinges on whether the application can run on managed databases, middleware, and runtime services without modification; if it depends on custom or unsupported components, IaaS may be required instead. Option A is not the deciding factor for service model selection, since scalability can be achieved across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS and is more a design/architecture concern. Option C is important for overall cloud security and compliance, but data-at-rest protections can be implemented in all three models and do not by themselves determine the service model. Option E is a business-case consideration that applies regardless of model and does not specifically differentiate IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS selection.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The scalability requirements of the application.
Why it's wrong here
Scalability alone does not determine the service model; control over the operating system, patching responsibility and existing licensing also decide whether IaaS, PaaS or SaaS fits. It is tempting because scalability genuinely differs between models, and it would be a deciding factor when workload demand varies sharply and elastic scaling is the primary requirement.
- ✓
The level of control required over the operating system and runtime environment.
Why this is correct
Control over the operating system and runtime environment decreases as you move from IaaS through PaaS to SaaS. This axis determines which service model suits workloads needing patching, custom runtimes, or administrative access, satisfying the migration planning requirement.
- ✗
The security compliance requirements for data at rest.
Why it's wrong here
Data-at-rest compliance applies to every service model, so it cannot discriminate between IaaS, PaaS and SaaS; the split is who manages the stack layers. It is tempting because regulated workloads do demand encryption and residency controls, but those are configured identically once a model is chosen.
- ✓
The compatibility of the application with managed database or middleware services.
Why this is correct
Managed database and middleware services are offered by PaaS, so application compatibility with them determines whether that model fits or whether IaaS is needed. This factor directly shapes the service model decision during migration planning.
- ✗
The total cost of ownership compared to on-premises.
Why it's wrong here
TCO is an outcome of the chosen model, not a selection input, and it varies with consumption rather than with the IaaS/PaaS/SaaS boundary. It tempts because cost comparisons drive most migration business cases, yet the stem asks which factors determine the model itself.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CV0-004 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 CV0-004 exam.