Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of cloud computing?

In the context of cloud computing, high initial costs are not a characteristic associated with this model. One of the key features of cloud computing is its ability to reduce capital expenses. Instead of investing heavily in physical infrastructure and resources upfront, organizations can leverage cloud services to pay for what they need on a subscription or usage-based model. This shift allows businesses to have a more predictable budgeting process and frees them from large, one-time investments.

In contrast, scalability, on-demand service, and resource pooling are fundamental characteristics of cloud computing. Scalability refers to the ability to effortlessly increase or decrease resources according to demand, allowing organizations to handle varying workloads efficiently. On-demand service means users can access resources and services as needed, without long-term commitments. Resource pooling indicates that a cloud provider's resources are pooled to serve multiple customers, allowing for optimal resource utilization. Thus, these features highlight the flexibility and efficiency that cloud computing offers compared to traditional IT models.