What characteristic of cloud-computing environments allows for quick updates?

The characteristic of cloud-computing environments that facilitates quick updates is homogeneity. In a homogeneous cloud environment, the infrastructure and software across the system are uniform, which simplifies the process of applying updates. All components can have the same configurations and versions, allowing for streamlined management and ensuring that updates can be rolled out simultaneously across all instances. This consistency minimizes compatibility issues and simplifies maintenance tasks, leading to a more efficient update process.

In contrast, the other characteristics create complexities that could hinder quick updates. Heterogeneous environments consist of diverse systems and software, making it more challenging to perform updates uniformly. Scalability, while critical for handling varying loads and resource demands, doesn't directly influence the update process's speed. Decentralized systems, where control and management are spread out, can also complicate update efforts due to coordination challenges and potential inconsistencies across different nodes. Hence, the nature of a homogeneous environment is key to facilitating fast and effective updates.