Which service model requires users to manage their own software applications?

The service model that requires users to manage their own software applications is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). In this model, users are provided with virtualized computing resources over the internet. This includes things like servers, storage, and networking capabilities, but it does not include the software or application layer.

Users have full control over the operating systems and the applications they install on the infrastructure they provision. As a result, they are responsible for managing everything from patching and updates for software applications to configuring security settings. This level of management offers flexibility and control but also requires more expertise and oversight from the user.

In contrast, Platform as a Service (PaaS) abstracts the underlying infrastructure and provides a framework for developers to build upon, allowing them to focus more on the application development without managing the underlying hardware or operating systems. Software as a Service (SaaS) delivers fully managed applications over the internet, meaning users do not have to manage or control the software. Database as a Service (DBaaS) is similar to SaaS but specifically focuses on database management, also handling most operational aspects.