CV0-004 Cloud Architecture and Design Practice Question
A startup wants to run code in response to events without provisioning or managing servers. Which cloud service model should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing FaaS with PaaS — candidates often pick PaaS because both are managed, but the exam tests that FaaS specifically means event-driven functions with no server provisioning or management.
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
✓
FaaS
FaaS (Function-as-a-Service) is the cloud service model where the provider runs code in response to events without requiring the customer to provision or manage servers. The customer deploys functions, and the platform handles scaling, patching, and infrastructure. This exactly matches the requirement to run code on events with no server 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.
- ✗
PaaS
Why it's wrong here
PaaS supplies a managed runtime and middleware, but the developer still deploys and manages an application instance rather than event-triggered functions. It is tempting because PaaS removes server administration, and it would be right for hosting a web app or API without patching the underlying OS.
- ✗
IaaS
Why it's wrong here
IaaS delivers raw compute, storage and networking that the customer still provisions and manages, so servers are explicitly managed. It is tempting because it removes physical hardware ownership, and it would be correct when full control of the operating system and runtime is required.
- ✓
FaaS
Why this is correct
FaaS runs event-triggered code without provisioning or managing servers, matching the startup's requirement exactly. The provider handles all infrastructure; the developer deploys only functions. IaaS and PaaS still involve server or runtime management, so they fail the no-server-management constraint.
- ✗
SaaS
Why it's wrong here
SaaS provides a finished application to end users, exposing no execution environment for custom event-driven code. It is tempting because no infrastructure is managed, and it would be the right choice when consuming ready-made software such as email or CRM rather than running bespoke functions.
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 and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.