Which essential characteristic ensures the ability of cloud computing resources to be adjusted according to demand?

Elasticity is a vital characteristic of cloud computing that allows resources to be scaled up or down based on demand dynamically. This means that as the need for computing power or storage increases, additional resources can be provisioned automatically. Conversely, when the demand decreases, those resources can be de-provisioned to avoid unnecessary costs.

This adaptability is crucial for businesses that experience fluctuating workloads, enabling them to maintain performance without overcommitting financial resources to infrastructure that remains underutilized most of the time. It ensures optimal use of resources and cost-efficiency, which are pivotal components of effective cloud computing strategies.

While resource pooling, on-demand service, and computer network accessibility are also important aspects of cloud computing, they do not specifically highlight the ability to adjust resources in response to varying demand levels as clearly as elasticity does. Resource pooling refers to the combination of multiple resources to service multiple clients, on-demand service is focused on availability, and computer network accessibility pertains to the reach and connectivity of cloud services.