Which of the following is a benefit of cloud computing?

Choosing less hardware required as a benefit of cloud computing highlights one of the core advantages of leveraging cloud services. In a traditional IT setup, organizations often have to purchase and maintain physical servers, network equipment, and other hardware to support their applications and data storage needs. This not only demands significant capital expenditure but also necessitates ongoing costs related to upgrades, maintenance, and power consumption.

Cloud computing, on the other hand, allows organizations to utilize virtualized resources provided by third-party cloud service providers. This transition means that companies can significantly reduce their hardware footprint. They can scale their computing resources up or down based on demand without the need to invest in additional physical equipment. Consequently, this leads to lower upfront costs and a reduced need for physical hardware management, thus freeing up IT resources to focus on more strategic initiatives.

The other options reflect aspects that do not align with the benefits of cloud computing. Increased capital expenditure and increased maintenance requirements are contrary to the cost-saving benefits often associated with utilizing cloud services. Similarly, more space consumption contradicts the efficient use of resources inherent in cloud environments, where physical space for hardware is minimized.