What is a key characteristic of cloud services from the customer's perspective?

A key characteristic of cloud services from the customer's perspective is transparency in usage and administration. This is important because customers often rely on visibility into their cloud operations to manage resources effectively, control costs, and ensure compliance with security and regulatory standards.

Transparency allows customers to monitor their usage patterns, assess performance, and make informed decisions regarding their cloud resources. This characteristic fosters trust between the service provider and the customer, as users can see how their data is being handled and how services are being delivered. It also enhances their ability to troubleshoot issues, optimize resource allocation, and understand billing processes.

In contrast, complexity in setup and configuration, high costs, and mandatory onsite management would generally be viewed as drawbacks rather than characteristics that appeal to customers seeking cloud solutions. These factors can create barriers to entry and reduce the overall attractiveness of cloud offerings.