CCSP Cloud Concepts, Architecture, and Design Practice Question
Which characteristic of cloud computing allows a user to provision resources automatically without requiring human interaction with the service provider?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates conflate 'automatic provisioning' with 'rapid elasticity' — both involve automation, but elasticity is about scaling up/down with demand, whereas on-demand self-service is specifically about the consumer provisioning resources without provider interaction.
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
✓
On-demand self-service
On-demand self-service is the cloud characteristic defined by NIST SP 800-145 that allows a consumer to unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider. This exactly matches the scenario of automatic provisioning without provider interaction.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Rapid elasticity
Why it's wrong here
Rapid elasticity concerns scaling capabilities outward and inward commensurate with demand, not the initial automated provisioning act. It tempts because automatic scaling appears similar, but on-demand self-service is the characteristic that lets a consumer provision resources without human interaction with the provider.
- ✗
Broad network access
Why it's wrong here
Broad network access concerns availability of services over networks through standard mechanisms and diverse client devices, not automated provisioning. It tempts because network reachability is required to access cloud services, but the on-demand self-service characteristic governs unassisted resource provisioning.
- ✓
On-demand self-service
Why this is correct
On-demand self-service is the essential characteristic that lets consumers unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, automatically as needed, without requiring human interaction with each service provider, directly satisfying the stem's constraint.
- ✗
Resource pooling
Why it's wrong here
Resource pooling describes sharing physical and virtual resources among multiple consumers, not automatic provisioning. It tempts because pooled resources underpin multi-tenancy, but the on-demand self-service characteristic specifically covers provisioning without human interaction with the provider.
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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 ISC2 exam blueprint
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