Which of the following is a characteristic of cloud computing?

Cloud computing is defined by its ability to store data and provide services over the internet, rather than relying solely on local infrastructure. Storing data in a remote location accessed via the internet encapsulates the essence of cloud computing, where resources are available on demand from anywhere, as long as there is internet connectivity. This model also enables scalability, data sharing, and collaboration without the need for physical hardware on-site.

The other options describe characteristics that are opposed to cloud computing. For instance, storing data locally on a personal computer and exclusively on physical servers reflects traditional computing methods that rely on fixed, local environments rather than the distributed resources of the cloud. Additionally, not requiring an internet connection for data access limits the flexibility and functionality that cloud services offer, which typically depend on internet access for operation and use.

Thus, the ability to store data in a remote location accessed via the internet is indeed a fundamental characteristic of cloud computing.