What is measured service in cloud computing?

Measured service in cloud computing refers to the cloud service model where resource usage is monitored, controlled, and reported by the cloud provider. This allows customers to pay only for the resources they actually use, similar to how utilities like electricity are billed. The monitoring of usage ensures that customers have visibility into their resource consumption, which helps in managing costs and optimizing resource allocation.

This concept is essential for implementing a pay-as-you-go pricing model, making it attractive for businesses to scale their usage based on demand. By tracking resource usage, cloud providers can deliver detailed billing and usage reports, fostering transparency and better financial management for customers.

The other choices do not accurately depict the nature of measured service. Unlimited use implies a flat rate without consideration of consumption, which contradicts the essence of measured service. Services offered without usage tracking would lack the necessary monitoring framework that defines measured service, and cloud storage without management tools would not address the need for tracking and controlling resource utilization.