Which of the following describes an automated framework for deploying and managing applications?

The answer is based on the concept of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), which describes an automated framework for deploying and managing applications through code. This approach allows for the automated configuration, deployment, and management of infrastructure resources using declarative code rather than manual processes. IaC provides the ability to version control infrastructure changes, ensure consistent environments, and enable rapid application deployment.

By treating infrastructure in a programmatic manner, teams can leverage automation tools to provision environments on-demand, reduce the chances of human error, and establish repeatable processes. With IaC, developers and operations teams can use scripts to define and manage their infrastructure, integrating seamlessly into modern DevOps practices.

The other options, while relevant to deployment and management, focus on different aspects. Continuous Integration pertains to the practice of automatically testing and integrating code changes into a shared repository to ensure quality and rapid delivery. Containerization involves encapsulating applications and their dependencies into containers, streamlining deployment and scaling but does not inherently provide an infrastructure management framework. Configuration as Code, while related, typically focuses on managing software configurations rather than the entire infrastructure deployment process.