Question 468 of 985

Describe cloud concepts →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

SaaS Definition: Provider Manages Everything for MS-900

This MS-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 company wants to use a cloud service where they only manage their data and user access, while the cloud provider handles everything from the physical infrastructure to the applications. Which cloud service model is this?

A
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Why wrong: Incorrect. In IaaS, the customer manages the operating system, applications, and data, while the provider manages physical infrastructure.
B
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why wrong: Incorrect. In PaaS, the customer manages the application and data, but the provider manages the runtime environment and infrastructure.
C
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Correct. The provider manages everything from infrastructure to the application, and the customer only manages data and user access.
D
On-premises deployment
Why wrong: Incorrect. On-premises means the company manages all infrastructure and software, not the provider.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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)

This scenario describes Software as a Service (SaaS), where the cloud provider manages the entire stack—physical infrastructure, operating system, middleware, runtime, data, and applications—while the customer only manages their data and user access. In SaaS, the provider delivers fully functional applications over the internet, such as Microsoft 365, where users simply log in and use the software without any infrastructure or platform management responsibilities.

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
Incorrect. In IaaS, the customer manages the operating system, applications, and data, while the provider manages physical infrastructure.
✗
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. In PaaS, the customer manages the application and data, but the provider manages the runtime environment and infrastructure.
✓
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Why this is correct
Correct. The provider manages everything from infrastructure to the application, and the customer only manages data and user access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
On-premises deployment
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. On-premises means the company manages all infrastructure and software, not the provider.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse PaaS with SaaS because both abstract infrastructure, but PaaS still requires the customer to manage their own applications and data, whereas SaaS offloads even application management to the provider.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, SaaS applications are typically multi-tenant, meaning a single instance of the software serves multiple customers, with data isolation enforced at the application layer (e.g., through tenant IDs in database queries). Real-world examples include Microsoft 365, where Exchange Online handles email, and the provider manages patching, scaling, and availability via global data centers, while the customer only configures user permissions and data retention policies through tools like the Microsoft 365 admin center.

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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this MS-900 question test?

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: Software as a Service (SaaS) — This scenario describes Software as a Service (SaaS), where the cloud provider manages the entire stack—physical infrastructure, operating system, middleware, runtime, data, and applications—while the customer only manages their data and user access. In SaaS, the provider delivers fully functional applications over the internet, such as Microsoft 365, where users simply log in and use the software without any infrastructure or platform management responsibilities.

What should I do if I get this MS-900 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.

About these practice questions

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on MS-900

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. Which two statements correctly describe SaaS in a cloud computing model? (Choose 2.)

easy

✓ A.Users access a complete application provided by the cloud service provider.
✓ B.The provider manages the underlying infrastructure and application platform.
C.Customers manage the operating system patching.
D.Customers deploy their own runtime environment.

Why A: Option A is correct because in the SaaS model, users access a complete application—such as Microsoft 365—that is hosted and managed entirely by the cloud service provider. The provider handles all aspects of the application, including availability, performance, and security, while the user simply consumes the software via a web browser or client. This aligns with the NIST definition of SaaS, where the consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure or even individual application capabilities.

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