PK0-005 Practice Question: Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management
A project manager is leading a project to deploy a new customer relationship management (CRM) system for a sales team of 50 users. The vendor offers both an on-premises and a cloud-based option. The project sponsor is concerned about the total cost of ownership and wants to avoid large upfront capital expenditures. Which cloud service model should the project manager recommend?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any cloud model eliminates capital expenditures, but only SaaS removes the need for the organization to manage the application and underlying infrastructure.
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 is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed application without upfront infrastructure costs. The vendor handles all maintenance, updates, and security, allowing the sales team to focus on using the CRM. This model minimizes capital expenditures and operational overhead, aligning with the sponsor's financial concerns and the project's goal of rapid deployment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Why it's wrong here
IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, but the organization would still be responsible for installing and managing the CRM application, operating system, and middleware. This does not eliminate the need for upfront hardware investments or the operational burden, and it does not directly address the sponsor's concern about capital expenditures for a fully managed CRM solution.
- ✗
On-premises deployment
Why it's wrong here
On-premises deployment requires purchasing servers, storage, and software licenses, resulting in significant upfront capital expenditures. It also demands ongoing maintenance, staffing, and facility costs. This directly contradicts the sponsor's desire to avoid large capital outlays and does not leverage the cost benefits of cloud computing, so it is not the appropriate recommendation.
- ✗
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why it's wrong here
PaaS provides a development and deployment environment, but it still requires the organization to build or customize the CRM application and manage data. It does not offer a ready-to-use CRM solution and may involve development effort and ongoing operational costs. The sponsor's focus on avoiding capital expenditures and minimizing management overhead is better served by a fully managed application service.
- ✓
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Why this is correct
SaaS delivers a complete application managed by the vendor, eliminating upfront hardware and software licensing costs. The sales team can access the CRM via a browser, and the vendor handles maintenance, updates, and infrastructure. This aligns with the sponsor's goal to avoid capital expenditures and reduces total cost of ownership, making it the most suitable cloud service model for this scenario.
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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 PK0-005 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 PK0-005 exam.