Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of cloud environments?

The option indicating high upfront capital costs is not a characteristic of cloud environments. Cloud computing is fundamentally built on a pay-as-you-go model, which allows organizations to access computing resources without the need for significant initial investment. Instead of making hefty capital expenditures to purchase hardware and infrastructure, users can leverage cloud services and pay based on their usage. This financial model not only reduces risk but also encourages flexibility and scalability, aligning with the essence of cloud computing.

In contrast, on-demand resource availability, rapid elasticity, and broad network access are intrinsic features of cloud environments. On-demand resource availability indicates that users can access resources as needed, while rapid elasticity allows for scaling resources up or down quickly to accommodate varying workloads. Broad network access facilitates access to cloud services from any location with internet connectivity, further underscoring the cloud's flexibility and convenience.