DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
A data engineer needs to store log files from multiple applications in a central S3 bucket. The logs must be stored cost-effectively for long-term retention (7 years). The logs are accessed infrequently after the first 30 days. Which storage class should the engineer use for objects older than 30 days?
⚠ Common exam trap
AWS often tests the misconception that any 'infrequent access' scenario automatically requires Glacier or Deep Archive, but the trap here is that the logs still need millisecond retrieval latency for occasional access, which Standard-IA provides while Glacier classes do not.
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 Standard-IA
D is correct because S3 Standard-IA (Infrequent Access) is designed for data accessed less frequently but requires rapid access when needed, with a lower storage cost than S3 Standard and a 30-day minimum storage duration charge. After the first 30 days, logs are infrequently accessed, making Standard-IA the most cost-effective option that still provides millisecond first-byte latency for occasional retrieval needs over the 7-year retention period.
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 Glacier Deep Archive
Why it's wrong here
Deep Archive is for very rarely accessed data and has a 180-day minimum storage charge; may be too restrictive.
- ✗
S3 Standard
Why it's wrong here
Standard is for frequent access; higher cost for long-term storage of infrequently accessed data.
- ✗
S3 One Zone-IA
Why it's wrong here
One Zone-IA is less durable and not recommended for long-term retention of important logs.
- ✓
S3 Standard-IA
Why this is correct
Standard-IA is for infrequently accessed data with lower storage cost.
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 DEA-C01 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 DEA-C01 exam.