MS-900 Describe cloud concepts Practice Question
A business wants to use a cloud solution where they can scale computing resources up or down automatically based on demand and only pay for what they use. The cloud provider manages the underlying hardware. Which two cloud characteristics are being described? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse scalability (the ability to scale) with elasticity (automatic scaling based on demand), and they overlook measured service as a distinct characteristic because they focus only on the scaling aspect rather than the pay-per-use billing model explicitly stated in the question.
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
✓
Elasticity
Elasticity is correct because it describes the ability to automatically scale computing resources up or down based on demand, which is a key characteristic of cloud computing. The scenario explicitly states that resources scale automatically, which aligns with elasticity rather than just the ability to scale (scalability). Measured service is correct because the business pays only for what they use, which is the pay-per-use billing model enabled by metering resource consumption.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Elasticity
Why this is correct
Elasticity is the cloud computing characteristic that allows resources to be automatically scaled up or down in response to real-time demand. In the scenario, the business can dynamically adjust resource consumption without manual intervention, ensuring they only provision what is needed. This automatic provisioning and deprovisioning directly aligns with the definition of elasticity, which is distinct from mere scalability because it responds to fluctuations in workload instantaneously.
- ✓
Measured service
Why this is correct
Measured service is the metering of cloud resource usage, enabling a pay-as-you-go billing model where customers are charged only for the actual resources consumed. The scenario's description of paying solely for what is used reflects this transparent, usage-based cost structure. It provides cost optimization and operational efficiency by eliminating the need for upfront capital expenditure or paying for idle capacity.
- ✗
Scalability
Why it's wrong here
Scalability refers to the ability of a system to handle increased load by adding or removing resources, but this process is often manual or requires pre-planning. Unlike elasticity, scalability does not inherently involve automatic adjustments based on real-time demand, nor does it imply a pay-per-use billing model. The scenario emphasizes both automatic scaling and usage-based pricing, which are defining attributes of elasticity, making scalability an incomplete answer.
- ✗
High availability
Why it's wrong here
High availability is focused on ensuring a system remains operational and accessible to users in the event of component failures, typically through redundancy and failover mechanisms. It does not directly address the dynamic scaling of resources or the pay-as-you-go billing model described in the scenario. Since the business's requirements center on variable resource usage and corresponding billing, high availability is unrelated to the core need.
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