What is a primary benefit of cloud computing regarding operational costs?

One of the key benefits of cloud computing is the ability to lower operating costs by paying only for usage. This model allows organizations to avoid the significant upfront capital expenditures typically associated with purchasing and maintaining on-premises hardware and software. Instead, businesses can leverage cloud services in a pay-as-you-go model, where they only pay for the resources they consume.

This approach enables more efficient resource management and cost control, as organizations can scale their usage up or down based on current demands. It also removes the need for extensive internal IT infrastructure management, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations rather than IT maintenance. This financial flexibility is particularly advantageous for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises that may have limited budgets and operational agility.