What is one characteristic of cloud computing as a disruptive technology?

One significant characteristic of cloud computing as a disruptive technology is that it reduces the need for physical infrastructure. This is because cloud services enable users to access computing resources, such as servers, storage, and applications, over the internet, eliminating the necessity for on-premises hardware and facilities. By leveraging cloud infrastructure, organizations can significantly decrease their capital expenditure on physical equipment, as they can instead utilize scalable cloud resources on a pay-as-you-go basis. This shift not only lowers costs but also allows businesses to focus more on their core operations rather than managing IT infrastructure, ultimately fostering innovation and agility.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe a characteristic of cloud computing as a disruptive technology. Enhancing the performance of existing servers may occur in certain contexts but does not encapsulate the transformative nature of cloud computing. The notion that cloud computing requires additional hardware investments is misleading since one of its main benefits is reducing reliance on hardware. Lastly, while cloud services rely on internet connectivity, the idea of minimizing connectivity requirements does not align with the fundamental operational requirements of cloud computing, which inherently depends on robust internet access for functionality.