FC0-U71 Data and Database Fundamentals Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are benefits of using a cloud database service (DBaaS) over an on-premises database?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is assuming DBaaS gives OS-level control or guaranteed low latency — those are IaaS/on-premises traits, not DBaaS benefits.
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
✓
No need to manage physical hardware
Option A is correct because a DBaaS provider owns and operates the underlying physical servers, storage, and networking, so the customer is freed from hardware procurement, racking, power, cooling, and replacement tasks. Option E is correct because DBaaS platforms typically offer elastic, automated scaling of compute, storage, and sometimes read replicas in response to workload demand, which is difficult to achieve quickly with fixed on-premises capacity. Option B is not correct because DBaaS abstracts the operating system away from the customer, who generally gets far less OS-level control than with an on-premises deployment. Option C is not correct because lower latency is not guaranteed; network round trips to the provider's region can actually increase latency compared with a local database. Option D is not correct because DBaaS data resides in the provider's data centers, not locally on the customer's premises.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
No need to manage physical hardware
Why this is correct
With DBaaS the provider owns and maintains the servers, storage and patching, so the organisation no longer procures or racks physical hardware. This directly satisfies the stem's comparison against on-premises databases, where hardware management is the customer's responsibility.
- ✗
Full control over the operating system
Why it's wrong here
DBaaS shifts operating system patching, tuning and hardening to the provider, so the customer loses that control rather than gaining it. It is tempting because full OS control is a genuine advantage of on-premises hosting, and would be the right answer if the question asked for benefits of self-managed infrastructure.
- ✗
Lower latency guaranteed
Why it's wrong here
Latency depends on network distance between client and database region, so no cloud provider guarantees it; DBaaS typically adds WAN hops. It is tempting because providers do publish latency targets and offer region selection, which would make this correct if the question asked about performance options rather than guaranteed benefits.
- ✗
Data is always stored locally
Why it's wrong here
DBaaS stores data in the provider's cloud infrastructure, so it is not held locally on the customer's own hardware. It is tempting because local storage reduces network latency and can satisfy data-residency requirements, making on-premises databases the right choice when regulation or performance demands data remain on site.
- ✓
Automatic scaling of resources
Why this is correct
Automatic scaling satisfies the variable-workload constraint: DBaaS provisions compute and storage elastically, so capacity tracks demand without manual hardware procurement. On-premises databases require pre-purchased servers sized for peak load, wasting idle capacity. This elasticity is inherent to the provider's managed infrastructure, not something the customer configures.
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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
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