What is a key characteristic of IaaS?

A key characteristic of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is that it delivers virtualized computing resources over the internet. This model allows users to rent IT infrastructures—such as servers, storage, and networking—on a pay-as-you-go basis, facilitating flexibility and scalability for businesses.

With IaaS, organizations can quickly scale their infrastructure resources up or down according to their needs without the requirement for physical hardware purchases or a significant upfront investment. Instead of maintaining and managing physical servers, businesses can deploy virtual machines and configure their computational power, storage options, and network configurations instantly, which streamlines operations and enhances efficiency.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the fundamental nature of IaaS. For instance, providing software applications as subscriptions is more aligned with Software as a Service (SaaS). Offering hardware and software tools over the internet can relate to various service models, not exclusively IaaS. Lastly, while networks are essential for cloud infrastructure, IaaS does not eliminate the need for them; rather, it relies on them to deliver its services effectively.