To optimize responsiveness, which virtual machine configuration should be considered?

Utilizing autoscaling with instance groups is a key strategy for optimizing responsiveness in cloud environments. Autoscaling enables the automatic adjustment of the number of virtual machine instances in response to fluctuating demand. This means that during periods of high load, additional instances can be spun up to handle the increased traffic, ensuring that application performance remains high and users experience quick response times. Conversely, during low usage periods, unnecessary resources can be shut down, leading to cost savings.

This dynamic scaling is crucial for applications that experience varying workloads, as it ensures that resources are allocated efficiently in real-time. The flexibility of instance groups in combination with autoscaling allows for the allocation of just the right amount of resources when they are needed most, thereby maintaining high responsiveness and optimizing resource utilization.

In contrast, the other options do not directly address responsiveness in the same way. Preemptible VMs are designed for cost savings but can be terminated at any time, which may risk application performance during critical loads. Deploying a single large VM can lead to resource contention and may not scale efficiently with demand, while avoiding changes to VM types can lead to suboptimal performance if the initial configurations do not match current workload requirements. Autoscaling provides a more robust solution for maintaining responsiveness in a cloud environment