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

Limited scalability is not a characteristic of cloud computing; in fact, scalability is one of its most significant advantages. Cloud computing provides on-demand self-service, allowing users to provision resources as needed. It also offers broad network access, enabling access from various devices, and resource pooling, which allows multiple customers to share resources dynamically. Furthermore, rapid elasticity enables users to scale resources up or down quickly to meet changing demands. These characteristics make cloud computing a highly efficient and flexible model compared to traditional computing environments. Limited scalability contradicts the fundamental principle of cloud computing, which is designed to support scalable solutions based on user requirements. Why Other Options are Incorrect: A) On-demand self-service: This characteristic allows users to provision and manage resources without human intervention, a hallmark of cloud computing. B) Broad network access: Cloud services can be accessed via the internet from various devices, making this a core characteristic. C) Resource pooling: This allows multiple customers to use shared resources, leading to better efficiency and cost-effectiveness. E) Rapid elasticity: This characteristic enables users to scale resources dynamically to meet varying demands, a critical feature of cloud computing.