CLF-C02 Cloud Technology and Services Practice Question
Which AWS storage class is optimized for long-term archival where data is rarely accessed and retrieval time of several hours is acceptable?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse S3 Glacier Deep Archive with S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval, assuming both offer similar retrieval times, but the exam specifically tests the distinction that Deep Archive requires 12–48 hours while Flexible Retrieval can provide minutes to hours.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
S3 Glacier Deep Archive
S3 Glacier Deep Archive is designed for long-term archival of data that is accessed rarely, with retrieval times ranging from 12 to 48 hours. This makes it the most cost-effective storage class for scenarios where retrieval latency of several hours is acceptable, such as compliance or regulatory archives.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
S3 Standard-IA
Why it's wrong here
S3 Standard-IA is built for infrequently accessed data that still requires immediate access, with retrieval times of milliseconds. While it has lower storage cost than Standard, it charges retrieval fees and does not offer the deep discount of archival storage. For data that can wait 12-48 hours for retrieval, Standard-IA is overpriced and not an archival tier.
- ✗
S3 One Zone-IA
Why it's wrong here
S3 One Zone-IA stores data redundantly within a single Availability Zone, making it less durable than multi-AZ storage and unsuitable for long-term archival where data integrity is critical. It also provides millisecond access, not the delayed retrieval schedule of an archival class. This class is meant for easily reproducible data, not compliance or historical archives.
- ✓
S3 Glacier Deep Archive
Why this is correct
S3 Glacier Deep Archive is the lowest-cost S3 storage class, purpose-built for long-term retention of data that is accessed at most once or twice a year. Retrieval typically takes 12 to 48 hours, exactly matching the requirement. Data must be restored via a retrieval job before access, and the class is ideal for compliance archives that rarely need access.
- ✗
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
Why it's wrong here
S3 Intelligent-Tiering automatically moves objects between access tiers based on changing usage patterns, but it does not provide an archival retrieval latency of 12-48 hours. It optimizes for frequent and infrequent access, with no retrieval charges for the first tiers, but storage costs remain higher than Glacier Deep Archive. It is not designed for long-term archival with multi-hour retrieval.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CLF-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CLF-C02 exam.