The answer is Platform as a Service (PaaS). This is the correct choice because PaaS abstracts away the underlying infrastructure—servers, storage, networking, and OS patches—allowing the startup to focus exclusively on writing, deploying, and managing their code and data without server maintenance. On the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cloud service model responsibilities, often appearing as a scenario-based question where the key differentiator is the level of control versus convenience. A common trap is confusing PaaS with Software as a Service (SaaS), but remember: SaaS delivers a fully managed application to end-users, while PaaS gives developers a platform to build and run their own apps. For a quick memory tip, think of PaaS as “Platform for App-building” where you bring your code, and the provider handles the housekeeping.
AZ-900 Describe cloud concepts Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. 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 startup wants to quickly deploy a web application without worrying about server maintenance. They only want to focus on writing code and deploying it. Which cloud service model best fits this requirement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
B) Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Platform as a Service (PaaS) provides a managed hosting environment where the cloud provider handles the underlying infrastructure (servers, storage, networking, OS patches) while the customer focuses solely on deploying and managing their own code and data. This directly matches the startup's requirement to avoid server maintenance and concentrate on writing and deploying code.
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.
✗
A) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Why it's wrong here
IaaS requires you to manage the virtual machines, not focusing solely on code.
✓
B) Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why this is correct
PaaS offers a managed environment to deploy web applications without managing the underlying servers.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
C) Software as a Service (SaaS)
Why it's wrong here
SaaS provides ready-made software, not a platform for custom application deployment.
✗
D) Functions as a Service (FaaS)
Why it's wrong here
FaaS is for event-driven functions, not for a full web application.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse PaaS with IaaS because both allow code deployment, but IaaS still requires the customer to manage the OS and middleware, which violates the 'no server maintenance' requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, PaaS abstracts the entire runtime stack — from hypervisor to OS to language runtime — using containerization (e.g., Docker) and orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes) managed by the provider. A real-world scenario is Azure App Service, which automatically handles load balancing, auto-scaling, and SSL termination, while the developer only uploads their code via Git or FTP. This model enforces a specific application lifecycle (e.g., deployment slots, health checks) that differs from the full control of IaaS.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-900 question in full detail.
Describe cloud concepts — This question tests Describe cloud concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: B) Platform as a Service (PaaS) — Platform as a Service (PaaS) provides a managed hosting environment where the cloud provider handles the underlying infrastructure (servers, storage, networking, OS patches) while the customer focuses solely on deploying and managing their own code and data. This directly matches the startup's requirement to avoid server maintenance and concentrate on writing and deploying code.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A small business wants to run its accounting application without managing the underlying operating systems or hardware. The application is accessed through a web browser. Which cloud service model is being used?
easy
A.Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
B.Platform as a Service (PaaS)
✓ C.Software as a Service (SaaS)
D.Functions as a Service (FaaS)
Why C: The correct answer is C (SaaS) because the business uses a web browser to access the accounting application without managing the underlying OS or hardware. SaaS delivers fully functional software over the internet, where the provider handles all infrastructure, platform, and application management, matching the scenario's requirement of zero administrative overhead.
Variation 2. A small business wants to move its accounting software to the cloud to avoid purchasing and maintaining physical servers. Which cloud service model would provide the accounting application as a ready-to-use service over the internet?
easy
A.Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
B.Platform as a Service (PaaS)
✓ C.Software as a Service (SaaS)
D.Function as a Service (FaaS)
Why C: Option C (SaaS) is correct because the business needs a ready-to-use accounting application delivered over the internet without managing underlying infrastructure. SaaS provides fully functional software accessed via a web browser, where the provider handles all maintenance, updates, and server management, aligning perfectly with the goal of avoiding physical server ownership.
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Question Discussion
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