Quick Answer
The answer is S3 Intelligent-Tiering. This storage class is the most cost-effective choice because it automatically moves objects between two access tiers—frequent and infrequent—based on shifting access patterns, all while maintaining millisecond retrieval latency. For a workload with a high write-to-read ratio (100 PUTs versus 10 GETs per second), Intelligent-Tiering avoids the retrieval fees and minimum storage duration penalties that would apply to One Zone-IA or Glacier Deep Archive, making it ideal for infrequently accessed data that still needs fast access. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cost optimization without sacrificing performance—a common trap is choosing a lower-cost archive class like Glacier, forgetting that millisecond retrieval is required. Memory tip: think of Intelligent-Tiering as the “set it and forget it” class for unpredictable access patterns, where you pay a small monthly monitoring fee to avoid costly manual tiering mistakes.
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 is optimizing costs for an S3 bucket that stores infrequently accessed data but requires millisecond retrieval. The bucket receives 100 PUT requests per second and 10 GET requests per second. Which storage class is most cost-effective?
S3 Standard
Why wrong: Higher cost for infrequent access.
S3 One Zone-IA
Why wrong: Lower durability and higher PUT cost.
S3 Glacier Deep Archive
Why wrong: Retrieval times too slow.
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
Auto-tiering optimizes cost.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
S3 Intelligent-Tiering is the most cost-effective choice because it automatically moves objects between access tiers based on changing access patterns, optimizing costs without performance impact. The workload has a high write-to-read ratio (100 PUTs vs 10 GETs per second) and requires millisecond retrieval, which Intelligent-Tiering supports while avoiding the retrieval fees and minimum storage duration penalties of One Zone-IA or Glacier Deep Archive.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
S3 Standard
Why it's wrong here
Higher cost for infrequent access.
S3 One Zone-IA
Why it's wrong here
Lower durability and higher PUT cost.
S3 Glacier Deep Archive
Why it's wrong here
Retrieval times too slow.
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
Why this is correct
Auto-tiering optimizes cost.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose S3 One Zone-IA for infrequently accessed data, overlooking the high PUT rate and millisecond retrieval requirement, which make Intelligent-Tiering more cost-effective due to its automatic tiering and lack of retrieval fees.
Detailed technical explanation
S3 Intelligent-Tiering monitors access patterns at the object level and moves data between four access tiers: Frequent Access, Infrequent Access, Archive Instant Access, and Deep Archive Access, with no retrieval fees and a small monthly monitoring fee per object. The high PUT rate (100/s) means objects are initially placed in the Frequent Access tier, and if they remain unaccessed for 30 days, they automatically move to Infrequent Access, reducing storage costs without manual lifecycle policies. This is ideal for unpredictable or changing access patterns, as it avoids the fixed costs and penalties of other storage classes.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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Troubleshooting and Optimization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: S3 Intelligent-Tiering — S3 Intelligent-Tiering is the most cost-effective choice because it automatically moves objects between access tiers based on changing access patterns, optimizing costs without performance impact. The workload has a high write-to-read ratio (100 PUTs vs 10 GETs per second) and requires millisecond retrieval, which Intelligent-Tiering supports while avoiding the retrieval fees and minimum storage duration penalties of One Zone-IA or Glacier Deep Archive.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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