Which service model provides hardware resources over the Internet?

The correct answer is IaaS, which stands for Infrastructure as a Service. This service model offers virtualized hardware resources over the Internet, allowing users to rent resources such as servers, storage, and networking on an as-needed basis. IaaS enables organizations to scale their infrastructure dynamically without the need for significant capital expenditure on physical hardware. It provides flexibility and control, as users can manage their operating systems and applications while the underlying physical resources are managed by the service provider.

In contrast, PaaS (Platform as a Service) provides a platform allowing developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without concerning themselves with the underlying infrastructure. SaaS (Software as a Service) delivers software applications over the Internet, allowing users to access them without needing to manage any hardware or software. XaaS (Anything as a Service) is a broad category that encompasses multiple service delivery models but does not specifically refer to hardware resources alone. This helps clarify why IaaS is the correct choice among the options offered.