- A
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Why wrong: IaaS provides virtual machines and storage, but the business would still need to configure and manage the file server software, not a turnkey collaboration solution.
- B
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why wrong: PaaS is for developing and deploying custom applications, not for providing ready-to-use file storage and collaboration tools.
- C
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS delivers fully managed applications like cloud file storage and collaboration suites, meeting the need for accessibility and real-time collaboration without hardware management.
- D
Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
Why wrong: DaaS provides virtual desktops, not file storage services. It would be overkill and not directly address the file server migration requirement.
SaaS for File Storage and Collaboration
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of virtualization and cloud technologies. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A small business wants to migrate its on-premises file server to a cloud service to reduce hardware maintenance costs. The data must be accessible from any device with an internet connection and should support real-time collaboration. Which cloud service model best meets these requirements?
Quick Answer
The answer is Software as a Service (SaaS). This is the correct cloud service model because SaaS delivers ready-to-use applications—like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365—that provide both file storage and real-time collaboration over the internet, eliminating the need for the business to manage any underlying hardware or platform. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS; a common trap is confusing SaaS with IaaS, but remember that IaaS only provides virtualized hardware, not the collaborative software itself. For a small business seeking SaaS file storage collaboration, the key is that the software is fully managed by the provider and accessed via a browser or app. Memory tip: think of SaaS as “Software as a Subscription”—you just log in and use it, no servers to patch or maintain.
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 (Software as a Service) is the correct choice because it provides a ready-to-use file-sharing and collaboration application (e.g., Microsoft 365 SharePoint, Google Workspace Drive) that is accessed via a web browser or client over the internet. This eliminates the need to manage underlying hardware or platform, directly meeting the requirements for device-agnostic access and real-time collaboration without any infrastructure overhead.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 virtual machines and storage, but the business would still need to configure and manage the file server software, not a turnkey collaboration solution.
- ✗
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why it's wrong here
PaaS is for developing and deploying custom applications, not for providing ready-to-use file storage and collaboration tools.
- ✓
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Why this is correct
SaaS delivers fully managed applications like cloud file storage and collaboration suites, meeting the need for accessibility and real-time collaboration without hardware management.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
Why it's wrong here
DaaS provides virtual desktops, not file storage services. It would be overkill and not directly address the file server migration requirement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that IaaS is the best choice for any migration away from on-premises hardware, but the trap here is that IaaS still requires the customer to manage the operating system and application stack, whereas SaaS provides a fully managed, collaboration-ready solution that directly meets the access and real-time editing requirements.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SaaS applications like Microsoft 365 SharePoint use RESTful APIs and WebDAV protocols to enable real-time co-authoring and file synchronization across devices, with conflict resolution handled at the application layer. Under the hood, these services rely on distributed storage systems (e.g., Azure Blob Storage) and operational transformation algorithms to allow multiple users to edit the same document simultaneously without data loss. In a real-world scenario, a small business migrating from an on-premises SMB/CIFS file server to SharePoint Online would eliminate the need for VPNs and local storage hardware, while gaining version history and access control via Azure AD.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — This question tests Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Software as a Service (SaaS) — SaaS (Software as a Service) is the correct choice because it provides a ready-to-use file-sharing and collaboration application (e.g., Microsoft 365 SharePoint, Google Workspace Drive) that is accessed via a web browser or client over the internet. This eliminates the need to manage underlying hardware or platform, directly meeting the requirements for device-agnostic access and real-time collaboration without any infrastructure overhead.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.
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