What are on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured services known as?

The correct answer identifies on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured services as the five essential characteristics of cloud computing according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This classification is crucial because it provides a fundamental framework for understanding how cloud services operate and what users can expect from cloud environments.

NIST's definition outlines these characteristics to help clarify what constitutes cloud computing compared to traditional IT infrastructures. For instance, on-demand self-service allows users to provision resources as needed without requiring human interaction with service providers. Broad network access ensures that services are available over the network and can be accessed through standard mechanisms, reflecting the cloud's inherent flexibility. Resource pooling involves the provider’s resources that are pooled to serve multiple consumers, further optimizing resource use. Rapid elasticity refers to the ability to automatically scale resources up or down as requirements change. Measured services ensure that resource usage is monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer.

Recognizing these characteristics helps stakeholders to understand the capabilities and value proposition of cloud technologies.