- A
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
Why wrong: For unknown patterns, includes monitoring cost.
- B
S3 One Zone-Infrequent Access
Why wrong: Less durable; not ideal for critical data.
- C
S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval
Low-cost storage for infrequently accessed data with instant retrieval.
- D
S3 Standard
Why wrong: Optimized for frequent access, higher cost.
Question 245 of 1,616
Best S3 Storage Class for Infrequently Accessed Binary Files Retrievable in Minutes
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A developer needs to store a large number of binary files (e.g., images) that are accessed infrequently but must be retrievable within minutes. The storage solution should be cost-effective. Which Amazon S3 storage class is MOST suitable?
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 Instant Retrieval
S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval is the most suitable because it is designed for long-lived, infrequently accessed data that requires retrieval in milliseconds (within minutes), offering a lower storage cost than S3 Standard while still providing rapid access. The question specifies 'retrievable within minutes' and 'cost-effective,' which aligns with Glacier Instant Retrieval's sub-second retrieval times and lower storage price point compared to S3 Standard or Intelligent-Tiering for data accessed rarely.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 Intelligent-Tiering
Why it's wrong here
For unknown patterns, includes monitoring cost.
- ✗
S3 One Zone-Infrequent Access
Why it's wrong here
Less durable; not ideal for critical data.
- ✓
S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval
Why this is correct
Low-cost storage for infrequently accessed data with instant retrieval.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
S3 Standard
Why it's wrong here
Optimized for frequent access, higher cost.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'retrievable within minutes' with the longer retrieval times of S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval (minutes to hours) or S3 Glacier Deep Archive (hours), and overlook that S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval provides millisecond retrieval while still being cost-effective for infrequently accessed data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval uses a dedicated storage architecture with flash-based storage to achieve single-digit millisecond retrieval times, unlike S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval which uses tape-based retrieval with minutes to hours of latency. Under the hood, objects in Glacier Instant Retrieval are stored in a separate tier with a minimum storage duration of 90 days and a per-GB retrieval cost, making it ideal for data like archival images or backups that are accessed a few times per year but need immediate availability. A real-world scenario is a media company storing raw video files that are only accessed for editing once per quarter but must be available instantly when needed.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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 |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval — S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval is the most suitable because it is designed for long-lived, infrequently accessed data that requires retrieval in milliseconds (within minutes), offering a lower storage cost than S3 Standard while still providing rapid access. The question specifies 'retrievable within minutes' and 'cost-effective,' which aligns with Glacier Instant Retrieval's sub-second retrieval times and lower storage price point compared to S3 Standard or Intelligent-Tiering for data accessed rarely.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This DVA-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 DVA-C02 exam.
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