One of the main components of system audits is the ability to track changes over time and to match these changes with continued compliance and internal processes. Which aspect of cloud computing makes this particular component more challenging than in a traditional data center? 

Answer options:

A. Portability
B. Virtualization
C. Elasticity
D. Resource pooling

B

Cloud services make exclusive use of virtualization, and systems change over time, including the addition, subtraction, and reimaging of virtual machines. It is extremely unlikely that the exact same virtual machines and images used in a previous audit would still be in use or even available for a later audit, making the tracking of changes over time extremely difficult, or even impossible. Elasticity refers to the ability to add and remove resources from a system or service to meet current demand, and although it plays a factor in making the tracking of virtual machines very difficult over time, it is not the best answer in this case. Resource pooling pertains to a cloud environment sharing a large amount of resources between different customers and services. Portability refers to the ability to move systems or services easily between different cloud providers.