CV0-004 Cloud Architecture and Design Practice Question
Which cloud service model gives the customer the most control over the operating system and applications, while the provider manages the physical hardware, network, and storage?
⚠ Common exam trap
CV0-004 often tests the misconception that PaaS gives more control than IaaS because it includes development tools, but the key differentiator is that IaaS leaves OS management to the customer, while PaaS abstracts it away.
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
✓
IaaS
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) provides virtualized compute, storage, and networking resources, but the customer is responsible for managing the guest operating system, middleware, runtime, and applications. The provider only manages the physical hardware, network fabric, and storage infrastructure. This gives the customer the highest level of control among the listed models without owning the physical data center.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
FaaS
Why it's wrong here
FaaS runs function code only, with the provider abstracting the operating system entirely, so the customer cannot control or patch the OS as the scenario demands. It tempts because FaaS suits event-driven, stateless workloads where infrastructure management is deliberately surrendered.
- ✗
PaaS
Why it's wrong here
PaaS has the provider manage the runtime and operating system, so the customer controls only deployed applications and their configuration. It is tempting because PaaS still allows application deployment, but the stem requires control over the operating system too, which only IaaS grants.
- ✗
SaaS
Why it's wrong here
SaaS leaves the provider managing the application and, largely, the runtime and operating system, giving the customer the least control over those layers. It is tempting because SaaS removes operational burden, but the question demands maximum OS and application control, which IaaS provides.
- ✓
IaaS
Why this is correct
IaaS leaves the customer managing the guest operating system, middleware and applications, while the provider handles physical hardware, networking and storage virtualisation. This split gives more control than PaaS or SaaS, which abstract the OS layer away.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CV0-004 question from scratch — 834 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.