FC0-U71 Tech Concepts and Terminology Practice Question
A company is considering moving its email system to the cloud and wants to avoid managing the underlying servers and software. Which cloud service model would best suit this need?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests the boundary between SaaS and PaaS, tricking candidates who think 'cloud email' requires a platform when it's actually a finished application delivered as a service.
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
✓
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS delivers fully managed, ready-to-use applications over the internet, with the provider handling all underlying infrastructure, patching, and software maintenance. Moving an email system to a cloud-hosted service like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace is the canonical SaaS example because the customer only manages users and data, not servers or email software.
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 this is correct
SaaS delivers a complete, vendor-managed application over the internet, with the provider handling servers, patching and software updates. For email, this removes the customer's infrastructure burden entirely, satisfying the stem's requirement to avoid managing underlying servers and software.
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Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Why it's wrong here
IaaS delivers virtualised compute, storage and networking, leaving the guest operating system, email server software, patching and scaling to the customer — exactly the server management the company wants to avoid. It tempts because IaaS suits lift-and-shift migrations needing full OS control. Software as a Service, such as Microsoft 365, removes that layer entirely.
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Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why it's wrong here
PaaS supplies a managed runtime for deploying your own code, but it still leaves you owning the email application and its configuration. The scenario requires the provider to deliver working email, which is Software as a Service. PaaS fits building or hosting custom applications, not consuming finished email.
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Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
Why it's wrong here
DaaS streams virtual desktop environments, not email services, so it cannot satisfy a requirement to avoid managing mail servers and software. It is tempting because it does remove server management, but for desktops rather than email. DaaS would be correct when an organisation needs to deliver hosted virtual desktops to remote staff.
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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 FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.