Which cloud characteristic allows instant access to create additional servers or services through a self-service portal?

The characteristic that allows instant access to create additional servers or services through a self-service portal is on-demand provisioning. This feature is fundamental to cloud computing, enabling users to access and utilize computing resources as needed without lengthy delays or intervention from service providers. With on-demand capabilities, resources can be allocated rapidly in response to user requests, allowing businesses to dynamically adjust their cloud environments based on real-time needs, which enhances agility and reduces downtime.

The fundamental nature of cloud services is that they can be provisioned as required, making it easy for users to scale up when there is increased demand or scale down when demand decreases. This flexibility is a hallmark of cloud environments, providing a significant advantage over traditional IT infrastructure.

While bursting refers to the capability of scaling resources up temporarily to handle peak loads, it usually requires prior allocation and is not typically available through self-service at any moment. Pay as you grow generally pertains to a pricing model aligned with consumption but does not specifically describe the self-service access feature. Multitenancy involves multiple users sharing the same infrastructure, but it doesn’t necessarily imply the instant provisioning of resources.