CV0-004 Cloud Architecture and Design Practice Question
A cloud administrator needs to provide a shared file system that can be accessed by multiple Linux-based virtual machines in the same VPC. Which storage type should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is assuming block storage (EBS) can be shared like a file system, or that object storage (S3) is a drop-in shared file system — the exam expects recognition that 'shared file system across multiple Linux VMs' maps to file storage (EFS/NFS).
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
✓
File storage
File storage provides a shared, hierarchical file system (e.g., NFS, SMB) that multiple Linux VMs in the same VPC can mount simultaneously, making it ideal for shared access. In AWS, this is Amazon EFS (Elastic File System), which supports concurrent NFS mounts across EC2 instances. Block and object storage do not natively provide a shared POSIX file system for multiple Linux hosts.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Object storage
Why it's wrong here
Object storage exposes an HTTP API of buckets and keys, not a mountable POSIX file system that Linux VMs can mount concurrently. It is tempting because it scales cheaply and is ideal for backups, media and static content, and would be correct when applications access data via REST rather than shared file semantics.
- ✗
Archive storage
Why it's wrong here
Archive storage is a retrieval tier for infrequently accessed data with long restore latency, so it cannot serve as a live shared file system for running Linux VMs. It is tempting because it is inexpensive for long-term retention, and would be correct for compliance archives or cold backups rather than active shared workloads.
- ✗
Block storage
Why it's wrong here
Block storage presents a raw volume attached to a single instance, so it cannot be mounted concurrently by several Linux VMs as a shared POSIX file system. It is tempting because block volumes deliver high IOPS for databases, and would be the right choice for a single VM needing low-latency disk performance rather than shared access.
- ✓
File storage
Why this is correct
File storage provides a shared, POSIX-compliant file system mountable concurrently by multiple Linux instances within the same VPC, matching the requirement. Block storage attaches to a single instance, and object storage lacks native shared-mount semantics.
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 |
Go deeper
Related to this question
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This CV0-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CV0-004 exam.