How do physical and virtual software assets differ?

Physical and virtual software assets differ primarily in their deployment and usage. Physical assets refer to software that is installed directly on local machines, such as desktop computers, servers, or any hardware where the software is physically present. This means that the software is tied to the hardware it is installed on, and its operation is contingent upon the local environment and resources of that machine.

On the other hand, virtual assets typically exist in a cloud environment or are hosted on virtual machines. This means that these assets are not reliant on a single physical machine but can be accessed and utilized through network connections. Virtual assets offer flexibility in terms of deployment, scalability, and availability, as they can be rapidly provisioned and accessed from various locations without the constraints of localized hardware.

The distinction made in the correct answer highlights these differences in installation and accessibility, providing a clear understanding of the nature of physical versus virtual software assets.