CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test 2025 - Free CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term “cloud computing” is best defined as using the internet to deliver computing services. This modern approach to technology offers a wide range of resources, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics, all accessible over the internet. By doing so, cloud computing allows businesses and individuals to leverage powerful computing resources without the constraints of managing physical hardware and infrastructure.

In contrast, storing data locally on physical servers refers to traditional computing practices, which do not utilize the cloud model. Similarly, only utilizing private networks for data storage describes a specific type of cloud (private cloud), but does not capture the essence of cloud computing as a whole, which can include public, hybrid, and multi-cloud configurations. Lastly, manual management of data centers contradicts the inherent advantages of cloud computing, which emphasize automation, scalability, and flexibility through managed services rather than manual oversight. Therefore, the first definition most accurately represents what cloud computing entails.