Which of the following defines a public cloud?

A public cloud is defined as cloud services that are available to the general public over the internet. This model is characterized by the ability for anyone to access the cloud services without restrictions that would limit access to a single organization. Public clouds are typically owned and operated by third-party cloud service providers, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud, which makes it possible to offer scalable resources, applications, and services to numerous customers simultaneously.

This definition emphasizes accessibility and shared infrastructure, which are core principles of public cloud computing. Public clouds operate on a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which is attractive to both individuals and businesses, allowing them to scale resources according to their needs without the capital expense of maintaining their own infrastructure.

The other options describe different cloud models or service environments. Private clouds are dedicated solely to one organization, often providing increased security and control. Hybrid clouds combine elements of both public and private clouds, enabling organizations to utilize the advantages of both. Finally, cloud services provided through private networks typically refer to private clouds that do not offer the same level of public access and are designed for exclusive organizational use.