Which service model allows customers to manage their own production applications while the provider manages hardware and core system applications?

The service model that allows customers to manage their own production applications while the provider takes care of the underlying hardware and core system applications is Platform as a Service (PaaS). This model provides a robust environment where developers can build, deploy, and manage applications without worrying about the complexities of hardware and infrastructure management.

In PaaS, the service provider handles the underlying physical infrastructure, including servers, storage, and networking, as well as the runtime environment and development tools necessary for application development. This enables customers to focus on coding and application logic, leveraging the platform's features and services to streamline their development processes.

PaaS solutions often come with built-in software components and services that support application development, such as database management systems, middleware, and development frameworks, therefore enhancing productivity.

In contrast, Software as a Service (SaaS) delivers software applications over the internet without the need for installation or management by the customer. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides the most basic level of cloud services, offering virtualized computing resources over the internet, requiring the customer to manage applications and operating systems. Desktop as a Service (DaaS) focuses on delivering virtual desktop environments to users, which does not align with the management of