What part of the logical infrastructure design is used to configure cloud resources, such as launching virtual machines or configuring virtual networks?

The management plane is responsible for the configuration and management of cloud resources, which includes tasks such as launching virtual machines, configuring virtual networks, and overseeing the overall state of the cloud infrastructure. It acts as a control layer that allows administrators to define how resources should be used, provisioned, and managed within the cloud environment.

The management plane enables the interaction between users and the cloud services, facilitating the deployment and orchestration of resources in a streamlined manner. This is crucial for organizations as it allows for automation and efficient resource handling, ensuring that cloud operations are managed effectively and can scale according to demand.

While management orchestration software might play a role in automating some of these tasks, the broader concept of the management plane encompasses all elements necessary for governance and configuration of cloud resources. Identity access management focuses on security and user access controls rather than the configuration of cloud resources themselves. Database management pertains specifically to database resources rather than the infrastructure as a whole. Thus, the management plane is the most appropriate choice for configuring cloud resources.