Which deployment model would likely require a greater investment in hardware?

The correct answer indicates that an infrastructure-based deployment typically necessitates a greater investment in hardware. This model relies on on-premises servers and physical devices to manage and deploy applications, as well as to store data. As a result, organizations must invest in purchasing, maintaining, and upgrading physical infrastructure components such as servers, storage solutions, networking equipment, and possibly even real estate to house this hardware.

In contrast, cloud-based deployment often leverages external cloud service providers (CSPs) that manage the underlying hardware, allowing organizations to pay only for the resources they consume without the need for significant upfront investment in physical equipment. While hybrid deployment could potentially lead to higher costs than purely cloud-based strategies because it integrates both on-premises and cloud resources, the infrastructure-based model is still generally more costly due to the inherent need for substantial hardware investment.

This makes the distinction clear in determining the deployment model that demands a higher financial commitment for hardware.