CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test 2026 - Free CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Questions and Study Guide

The service model where the cloud provider maintains the operating system while the customer manages applications is known as Platform as a Service (PaaS). In this model, the cloud provider takes care of the underlying hardware, networking, and operating system, allowing customers to focus on building and deploying applications without having to worry about the infrastructure. This approach provides developers with a ready-to-use platform that includes necessary tools and services, enabling quicker application development and scalability.

In contrast, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) would require the customer to manage not only the applications but also the operating system and underlying hardware. Software as a Service (SaaS) involves the provider managing everything, including applications, leaving no management responsibilities for the customer. XaaS, which stands for Anything as a Service, encompasses a broad range of services, but the specific arrangement described—where the OS is managed by the provider and the applications by the customer—specifically fits the PaaS model.