Which cloud service model provides virtualized computing resources over the internet?

The correct choice, which is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), is characterized by providing virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS delivers essential computing infrastructure such as servers, storage, and networking on a pay-as-you-go basis. This model allows users to manage and control the infrastructure themselves while relying on the service provider for the hardware and foundational virtualization technology.

In IaaS, users can deploy and run their own operating systems and applications, effectively offering the flexibility to configure the environments according to their needs. This differs from other service models in several crucial ways. For instance, Software as a Service (SaaS) delivers complete software applications running on the provider's infrastructure, abstracting away the underlying resources from the user altogether. Platform as a Service (PaaS) provides a framework for developers to build and deploy applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. Database as a Service (DBaaS) specifically focuses on providing database management services without the need for users to handle the underlying hardware or software complexities directly.

By providing direct access to computing resources, IaaS empowers businesses with the agility to scale their resources based on demand and run workloads efficiently without the need for significant capital investment in physical hardware.