CLOUD COMPUTING midterm EXAM REVIEW
2026|||questions and answers with
rationales/graded A+/2026 update/100% correct
/instant download
Cloud Computing – Midterm Exam Review (150 Questions)
Topics Covered (Typical First Half)
• Cloud Definitions & Essential Characteristics (NIST)
• Service Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) – deep dive
• Deployment Models (Public, Private, Hybrid, Community)
• Virtualization Fundamentals (Hypervisors, VMs)
• Cloud Economics (CapEx vs OpEx, TCO, Pay-as-you-go)
• Cloud Storage Basics (Object, Block, File)
• Cloud Compute Basics (Elasticity, Scalability)
• Cloud Networking Fundamentals (VPC, Subnets, Security Groups)
• Cloud Security Shared Responsibility Model
• Identity & Access Management (IAM) Basics
• Cloud Compliance Fundamentals
• Introduction to Containers (Docker basics)
• Cloud Migration Basics (5 R's)
Q1. According to NIST SP 800-145, which of the following is an essential
characteristic of cloud computing?
,A) Fixed resource allocation
B) On-demand self-service
C) Annual billing only
D) Dedicated physical hardware
Answer: B
Rationale: On-demand self-service allows users to provision resources
automatically without human interaction.
Q2. Which cloud service model provides the customer with virtual machines,
storage, and networks but requires the customer to manage the OS and
applications?
A) SaaS
B) PaaS
C) IaaS
D) FaaS
Answer: C
Rationale: IaaS gives customers control over operating systems, middleware, and
applications.
Q3. In the shared responsibility model for IaaS, who is responsible for physical
security of the data center?
A) Customer
B) Cloud provider
C) Third-party auditor
D) Shared equally
Answer: B
Rationale: The cloud provider is always responsible for physical security of its data
centers.
,Q4. Which deployment model involves cloud infrastructure available to the
general public over the internet?
A) Private cloud
B) Community cloud
C) Public cloud
D) Hybrid cloud
Answer: C
Rationale: Public cloud is owned and operated by a third-party provider and
delivered over the internet.
Q5. What does "rapid elasticity" mean in cloud computing?
A) Resources can be elastically provisioned and released, sometimes automatically
B) Resources are fixed for the contract duration
C) Only vertical scaling is allowed
D) Resources take weeks to provision
Answer: A
Rationale: Rapid elasticity is a key NIST characteristic; resources scale quickly in
and out.
Q6. Which of the following is an example of Software as a Service (SaaS)?
A) Amazon EC2
B) Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines
C) Google Gmail
D) Google Compute Engine
Answer: C
Rationale: Gmail is a fully functional application delivered as a service.
Q7. What is the primary financial difference between CapEx and OpEx in cloud
computing?
, A) CapEx is pay-as-you-go; OpEx is upfront purchase
B) CapEx is upfront hardware purchase; OpEx is operational expense like cloud
subscriptions
C) Both are the same
D) CapEx is only for software
Answer: B
Rationale: Cloud shifts from capital expenditure (buying servers) to operational
expenditure (paying for usage).
Q8. Which type of cloud storage is best suited for a boot volume for a virtual
machine?
A) Object storage
B) Block storage
C) File storage
D) Archive storage
Answer: B
Rationale: Block storage (e.g., AWS EBS) is formatted with a filesystem and used
as a boot disk.
Q9. A startup wants to avoid upfront hardware costs and pay only for what they
use. Which cloud characteristic enables this?
A) Resource pooling
B) Measured service
C) Broad network access
D) Fixed pricing
Answer: B
Rationale: Measured service (pay-per-use) allows billing based on actual
consumption.
2026|||questions and answers with
rationales/graded A+/2026 update/100% correct
/instant download
Cloud Computing – Midterm Exam Review (150 Questions)
Topics Covered (Typical First Half)
• Cloud Definitions & Essential Characteristics (NIST)
• Service Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) – deep dive
• Deployment Models (Public, Private, Hybrid, Community)
• Virtualization Fundamentals (Hypervisors, VMs)
• Cloud Economics (CapEx vs OpEx, TCO, Pay-as-you-go)
• Cloud Storage Basics (Object, Block, File)
• Cloud Compute Basics (Elasticity, Scalability)
• Cloud Networking Fundamentals (VPC, Subnets, Security Groups)
• Cloud Security Shared Responsibility Model
• Identity & Access Management (IAM) Basics
• Cloud Compliance Fundamentals
• Introduction to Containers (Docker basics)
• Cloud Migration Basics (5 R's)
Q1. According to NIST SP 800-145, which of the following is an essential
characteristic of cloud computing?
,A) Fixed resource allocation
B) On-demand self-service
C) Annual billing only
D) Dedicated physical hardware
Answer: B
Rationale: On-demand self-service allows users to provision resources
automatically without human interaction.
Q2. Which cloud service model provides the customer with virtual machines,
storage, and networks but requires the customer to manage the OS and
applications?
A) SaaS
B) PaaS
C) IaaS
D) FaaS
Answer: C
Rationale: IaaS gives customers control over operating systems, middleware, and
applications.
Q3. In the shared responsibility model for IaaS, who is responsible for physical
security of the data center?
A) Customer
B) Cloud provider
C) Third-party auditor
D) Shared equally
Answer: B
Rationale: The cloud provider is always responsible for physical security of its data
centers.
,Q4. Which deployment model involves cloud infrastructure available to the
general public over the internet?
A) Private cloud
B) Community cloud
C) Public cloud
D) Hybrid cloud
Answer: C
Rationale: Public cloud is owned and operated by a third-party provider and
delivered over the internet.
Q5. What does "rapid elasticity" mean in cloud computing?
A) Resources can be elastically provisioned and released, sometimes automatically
B) Resources are fixed for the contract duration
C) Only vertical scaling is allowed
D) Resources take weeks to provision
Answer: A
Rationale: Rapid elasticity is a key NIST characteristic; resources scale quickly in
and out.
Q6. Which of the following is an example of Software as a Service (SaaS)?
A) Amazon EC2
B) Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines
C) Google Gmail
D) Google Compute Engine
Answer: C
Rationale: Gmail is a fully functional application delivered as a service.
Q7. What is the primary financial difference between CapEx and OpEx in cloud
computing?
, A) CapEx is pay-as-you-go; OpEx is upfront purchase
B) CapEx is upfront hardware purchase; OpEx is operational expense like cloud
subscriptions
C) Both are the same
D) CapEx is only for software
Answer: B
Rationale: Cloud shifts from capital expenditure (buying servers) to operational
expenditure (paying for usage).
Q8. Which type of cloud storage is best suited for a boot volume for a virtual
machine?
A) Object storage
B) Block storage
C) File storage
D) Archive storage
Answer: B
Rationale: Block storage (e.g., AWS EBS) is formatted with a filesystem and used
as a boot disk.
Q9. A startup wants to avoid upfront hardware costs and pay only for what they
use. Which cloud characteristic enables this?
A) Resource pooling
B) Measured service
C) Broad network access
D) Fixed pricing
Answer: B
Rationale: Measured service (pay-per-use) allows billing based on actual
consumption.
