What does the term "vendor lock-in" refer to in cloud computing?

The term "vendor lock-in" in cloud computing specifically refers to the situation where a customer becomes heavily dependent on a single cloud provider for their services and infrastructure. This dependence can arise due to various factors, such as the unique features and tools that the provider offers, data migration challenges, or the costs associated with switching providers. When organizations find themselves locked into a vendor, they may encounter difficulties in migrating their data or applications to another platform, resulting in limited flexibility and increased costs over time. This reliance can hinder their ability to take advantage of competitive options in the market or adapt to changing business needs.

Other options describe different concepts that are related but do not capture the essence of vendor lock-in as precisely as dependence on a single cloud provider does. For instance, a temporary loss of access to services can happen for a variety of reasons unrelated to vendor dependency, and a multi-cloud strategy limitation addresses broader concerns about using multiple vendors rather than focusing on the implications of concentrated reliance on one. Lastly, discussing the inability to use on-premises systems is more about system integration and compatibility than the effects of vendor dependency in the cloud context.