Quick Answer
The answer is S3 Glacier Deep Archive, the correct choice because it provides the lowest-cost storage for long-term archival while meeting the 12-24 hour retrieval window required for infrequently accessed logs. This storage class is specifically engineered for cost-effective long-term log archival, with retrieval times of 12-24 hours for standard restores, making it ideal for 7-year retention scenarios where data is rarely accessed but must be available within a day. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to match storage classes to compliance-driven retention policies, often appearing as a trap where candidates confuse S3 Glacier Deep Archive with S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval (which offers faster retrieval but at higher cost) or mistakenly choose S3 One Zone-IA for durability concerns. The key differentiator is that Deep Archive is the only class that balances extreme cost savings with a retrieval time under 24 hours, making it the default for regulatory holds. Memory tip: think “Deep for decades, 24-hour deadline” to recall that Deep Archive is for long-term holds with a one-day retrieval window.
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 company wants to design a cost-effective solution to store infrequently accessed log files for 7 years. The logs are generated daily and must be available for retrieval within 24 hours. Which Amazon S3 storage class should be used?
S3 One Zone-Infrequent Access
Why wrong: Not designed for 7-year retention.
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
Why wrong: Not cost-effective for known infrequent access pattern.
S3 Glacier Deep Archive
Lowest cost with 12-24 hour retrieval.
S3 Standard
Why wrong: Too expensive for long-term archival.
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 Glacier Deep Archive
Option B is correct because S3 Glacier Deep Archive is the lowest-cost storage for long-term archival with retrieval times of 12-24 hours. Option A is incorrect because S3 Standard is for frequently accessed data. Option C is incorrect because S3 Intelligent-Tiering is for unknown access patterns. Option D is incorrect because S3 One Zone-IA is for infrequent access but not long-term archive.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
S3 One Zone-Infrequent Access
Why it's wrong here
Not designed for 7-year retention.
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
Why it's wrong here
Not cost-effective for known infrequent access pattern.
S3 Glacier Deep Archive
Why this is correct
Lowest cost with 12-24 hour retrieval.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
S3 Standard
Why it's wrong here
Too expensive for long-term archival.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: S3 Glacier Deep Archive — Option B is correct because S3 Glacier Deep Archive is the lowest-cost storage for long-term archival with retrieval times of 12-24 hours. Option A is incorrect because S3 Standard is for frequently accessed data. Option C is incorrect because S3 Intelligent-Tiering is for unknown access patterns. Option D is incorrect because S3 One Zone-IA is for infrequent access but not long-term archive.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SAP-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 SAP-C02 exam.
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