Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
A company wants to store backup data that is accessed rarely but must be available for retrieval within minutes. Which Cloud Storage class is appropriate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between 'retrieval within minutes' and 'retrieval within hours' to confuse candidates into selecting Coldline or Archive, assuming 'rarely accessed' automatically means the cheapest option, but the key is the specific retrieval time requirement.
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
✓
Nearline
Nearline storage is designed for data accessed less than once a month but requires retrieval within minutes, making it ideal for backup data that needs quick availability. It offers lower cost than Standard storage while still supporting sub-minute retrieval times, aligning with the scenario's access and latency requirements.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Standard
Why it's wrong here
For frequently accessed data.
- ✓
Nearline
Why this is correct
Low-cost storage for data accessed less than once a month with fast retrieval.
- ✗
Coldline
Why it's wrong here
For data accessed less than once a quarter with 90-day minimum.
- ✗
Archive
Why it's wrong here
For data accessed less than once a year with 365-day minimum.
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
Learn chapter
Introduction to Google Cloud Platform
Key term
Cloud storage
Cloud storage is a service that lets you save data on remote servers accessed over the internet instead of on your computer's hard drive.
Key term
Latency
Latency is the time delay between a request being sent over a network and the response being received, often measured in milliseconds.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCA practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud 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 PCA exam.