Which scenario describes a client losing access to data because the cloud provider ceased operation?

Which scenario describes a client losing access to data because the cloud provider ceased operation?

• A. Vendor Lock-in
• B. Application Transfer Risk
• C. Modules
• D. Vendor Lock-out

Answer: (D)

Vendor lock-out is the risk that a customer loses access to data and services if the cloud provider stops operating. In this scenario, the provider ceases operation, so you can no longer reach your data or continue using the service, which is the essence of being locked out by the vendor. To reduce this risk, contracts should promote data portability, export rights, and regular backups or escrow arrangements, plus a clear exit plan to move to another provider or restore data independently.

This differs from vendor lock-in, which is about being trapped with a provider due to proprietary systems or lack of interoperability, making switching difficult but not necessarily causing immediate loss of access. Application transfer risk relates to challenges in moving workloads between environments, not to losing access when a provider fails. Modules aren’t a standard term describing this risk and don’t fit the scenario.