What is a characteristic of Software as a Service (SaaS)?

The characteristic stating that applications are accessed over the Internet without installation accurately describes Software as a Service (SaaS). SaaS delivers software applications via the Internet, allowing users to access these applications using a web browser. This model eliminates the need for local installation and management of the software on individual devices, as everything, from software updates to hardware resources, is managed by the service provider.

By utilizing SaaS, organizations can benefit from increased efficiency and cost savings, as they don't need to invest in infrastructure to host the applications. Instead, they can use the application's features immediately through a subscription model or a pay-per-use basis.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the SaaS model. Users maintaining and managing the application's infrastructure refers more to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) or Platform as a Service (PaaS) models. The option about developing software on a dedicated platform pertains to a development environment, which is not the focus of SaaS. Finally, the requirement for extensive hardware resources runs counter to the concept of SaaS, as it is designed to abstract the hardware requirements away from the users, enabling them to leverage resources managed by the service provider.