CompTIA Cloud Essentials+: CLO-002

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: SaaS, or software as a service, is a cloud service model that provides ready- to-use, cloud-hosted application software to customers. Customers do not need to install, manage, or maintain the software; they simply access it via an internet connection, usually through a web browser. SaaS applications are typically offered on a subscription or pay- per-use basis. Examples of SaaS applications include email, CRM, ERP, office productivity, and collaboration tools12. SaaS is different from the other cloud service models in terms of the level of abstraction and control. In SaaS, the cloud service provider manages everything from the underlying infrastructure to the application software, while the customer only controls the application settings and data. In contrast, in IaaS (infrastructure as a service), the customer has more control and responsibility over the servers, storage, networking, and operating systems, while the cloud service provider only manages the physical infrastructure. In PaaS (platform as a service), the customer has control and responsibility over the applications and data, while the cloud service provider manages the underlying infrastructure and the development tools and platforms12. Therefore, when an organization uses a third-party ERP tool as a complete service, it is using the SaaS cloud service model. The organization does not need to worry about the installation, configuration, or maintenance of the ERP software; it only needs to access it via the internet and pay for the usage. The cloud service provider takes care of the rest.

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Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Elasticity is the cloud computing characteristic that allows the cloud service to scale up or down the resources dynamically according to the demand. Elasticity can help the organization address the issue of performance degradation from oversubscription of memory in the virtual environment and exhausted physical RAM by automatically allocating more memory resources to the servers when needed and releasing them when not needed. This way, the organization can avoid the risk of running out of memory and ensure optimal performance of the servers. References: CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ CLO-002 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 1: Cloud Computing Concepts, Section 1.2: Cloud Computing Characteristics, Page 17

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Right-sizing compute resource instances is the process of matching instance types and sizes to workload performance and capacity requirements at the lowest possible cost. It's also the process of identifying opportunities to eliminate or downsize instances without compromising capacity or other requirements, which results in lower costs and higher efficiency1. Right-sizing is a key mechanism for optimizing cloud costs, but it is often ignored or delayed by organizations when they first move to the cloud. They lift and shift their environments and expect to right-size later. Speed and performance are often prioritized over cost, which results in oversized instances and a lot of wasted spend on unused resources2. Right-sizing compute resource instances is the best action that the analyst should consider to lower costs and improve efficiency, as it can help reduce the amount of resources and money spent on instances that operate at a fraction of the full processing capacity. Right- sizing can also improve the performance and reliability of the instances by ensuring that they have enough resources to meet the workload demands. Right-sizing is an ongoing process that requires continuous

monitoring and analysis of the instance usage and performance metrics, as well as the use of tools and frameworks that can simplify and automate the right-sizing decisions1. Consolidating into fewer instances, using spot instances, or negotiating better prices on the company's reserved instances are not the best actions that the analyst should consider to lower costs and improve efficiency, as they have some limitations and trade-offs compared to right-sizing. Consolidating into fewer instances can reduce the number of instances, but it does not necessarily optimize the type and size of the instances. Consolidating can also introduce performance and availability issues, such as increased latency, reduced redundancy, or single points of failure3. Using spot instances can reduce the cost of instances, but it also introduces the risk of interruption and termination, as spot instances are subject to fluctuating prices and availability based on the supply and demand of the cloud provider4. Negotiating better prices on the company's reserved instances can reduce the cost of instances, but it also requires a long-term commitment and upfront payment, which reduces the flexibility and scalability of the cloud environment5. References: Right Sizing - Cloud Computing Services; The 6-Step Guide To Rightsizing Your Instances - CloudZero; Consolidating Cloud Services: How to Do It Right | CloudHealth by VMware; Spot Instances - Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud; Reserved Instances - Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud.