Which resource AWS service can be used for automated scaling of application resources?

AWS Auto Scaling is the service specifically designed for automated scaling of application resources. It allows you to automatically adjust the number of Amazon EC2 instances or other resources in response to changing demand for your application. By defining policies based on performance metrics, such as CPU usage or request count, AWS Auto Scaling ensures that your application can maintain performance and availability without manual intervention.

This service enables you to create a scaling plan that includes automatic scaling of both up and down actions, depending on the predefined thresholds. This dynamic capability is essential for applications that experience variable workloads, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and cost-effectively to meet user demands.

The other options do not provide the functions necessary for automated scaling. AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management) is focused on managing user access and permissions, AWS Direct Connect is a service for establishing a dedicated network connection from your premises to AWS, and AWS RDS (Relational Database Service) is aimed at simplifying the management of relational databases rather than automating resource scaling across the application landscape.