What is a defining feature of the public cloud deployment model?

The defining feature of the public cloud deployment model is multi-tenancy with shared services. In a public cloud, resources such as servers and storage are owned and operated by third-party cloud service providers and are made available to multiple organizations over the internet. This model allows different users or tenants to share the same physical infrastructure and resources while keeping their data and applications isolated from each other.

The multi-tenancy aspect promotes cost efficiency, as resources can be scaled up or down based on demand, and users only pay for what they use. This shared environment contrasts sharply with private clouds, where resources are dedicated to a single organization. The nature of public cloud services allows for greater flexibility and accessibility, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to deploy applications quickly at a lower cost.