- A
Cloud Storage Coldline class with a retention policy
Why wrong: Coldline is more expensive than Archive, and retrieval times are faster than needed but not required.
- B
Cloud Storage Nearline class
Why wrong: Nearline is for data accessed less than once a month but still more expensive than Archive.
- C
Cloud Storage Archive class with a lifecycle policy that deletes objects after 10 years
Archive class is cheapest for infrequently accessed data; lifecycle deletion meets compliance requirements.
- D
Cloud Storage Standard class with object versioning
Why wrong: Standard class is much more expensive, not suitable for archival.
Question 768 of 1,000
Google PCA Practice Question: Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of designing and planning a cloud solution architecture. 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 company needs to store archival data that is accessed less than once a year, with retrieval times of up to 12 hours acceptable. The data must be kept for 10 years for compliance. What is the most cost-effective Cloud Storage solution?
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
✓
Cloud Storage Archive class with a lifecycle policy that deletes objects after 10 years
Cloud Storage Archive class is the most cost-effective option for data accessed less than once a year with retrieval times up to 12 hours, as it offers the lowest storage cost among Google Cloud Storage classes. A lifecycle policy that deletes objects after 10 years ensures compliance with the retention requirement without incurring ongoing storage costs beyond the mandated period.
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.
- ✗
Cloud Storage Coldline class with a retention policy
Why it's wrong here
Coldline is more expensive than Archive, and retrieval times are faster than needed but not required.
- ✗
Cloud Storage Nearline class
Why it's wrong here
Nearline is for data accessed less than once a month but still more expensive than Archive.
- ✓
Cloud Storage Archive class with a lifecycle policy that deletes objects after 10 years
Why this is correct
Archive class is cheapest for infrequently accessed data; lifecycle deletion meets compliance requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Cloud Storage Standard class with object versioning
Why it's wrong here
Standard class is much more expensive, not suitable for archival.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'retention policy' (which prevents deletion) with 'lifecycle policy' (which automates deletion), leading them to choose Coldline or Nearline with a retention policy, missing that Archive class with a lifecycle delete rule is the most cost-effective and compliant solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Archive class has a minimum storage duration of 365 days and a retrieval cost that is higher than other classes, but its storage cost is the lowest, making it ideal for data that is rarely accessed. The lifecycle policy uses the Object Lifecycle Management feature, which can be configured with a 'Delete' action after a specified number of days from object creation (e.g., 3650 days for 10 years). Under the hood, Cloud Storage uses a unified API, but each storage class maps to different underlying storage media and replication strategies, with Archive class using nearline tape-like storage for maximum density and minimal cost.
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 PCA question test?
Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture — This question tests Designing and Planning a Cloud Solution Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Cloud Storage Archive class with a lifecycle policy that deletes objects after 10 years — Cloud Storage Archive class is the most cost-effective option for data accessed less than once a year with retrieval times up to 12 hours, as it offers the lowest storage cost among Google Cloud Storage classes. A lifecycle policy that deletes objects after 10 years ensures compliance with the retention requirement without incurring ongoing storage costs beyond the mandated period.
What should I do if I get this PCA 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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