Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CCSP Practice Questions and Study Guide

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model that provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching apps.

The correct response identifies the fundamental components that PaaS offers, which include the hardware and operating systems necessary for application development and deployment, along with network capacity and storage solutions. By delivering these resources as a service, PaaS allows developers to focus on creating applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. This service model is particularly beneficial because it promotes scalability, flexibility, and the ability to access powerful tools and services to streamline the development process.

The other options do not accurately describe PaaS. For example, cloud storage solutions focus primarily on data storage rather than providing a whole platform for application development. Similarly, hosted software applications pertain more to Software as a Service (SaaS), which offers complete software solutions rather than a development environment. Finally, private cloud storage indicates an exclusive infrastructure within an organization, not the shared, accessible platform characteristic of PaaS.