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?
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this MS-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: 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.
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Question Discussion
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