What does it mean to "scale" a service?

To "scale" a service refers to the ability to adjust resources effectively in response to varying client demand while maintaining performance levels. This means that as the number of clients or the complexity of service requirements increases, a company can enhance its resources—such as computing power, bandwidth, or staffing—to meet those demands without degradation in service quality.

Scaling can occur in two primary ways: vertical scaling, which involves upgrading existing resources (like adding CPU or memory), and horizontal scaling, which involves adding more instances or units (like adding more servers) to handle the load. The goal of scaling is to ensure that as demand fluctuates, the service remains efficient and responsive to client needs.

This approach contrasts with other options that suggest financial or access restrictions. Adjusting the budget to deliver more features doesn't inherently involve enhancing service capacity or maintaining performance; it's more about financial management. Limiting client access could decrease overall demand but does not address the need to meet varying levels of client demand effectively. Similarly, reducing the workforce can lead to cost savings but is not a sustainable way to scale a service in response to growth or increased demand, as it might compromise service delivery and client satisfaction.