PCDOE Archive storage class Practice Question
A company uses Cloud Storage to store archival data. They want to minimize storage costs while maintaining availability. Which storage class should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'Coldline' with the cheapest option because of its name, but Archive is actually the lowest-cost class for truly archival data, and Google Cloud tests whether you know the specific access frequency and minimum storage duration differences between Coldline and Archive.
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
✓
Archive storage class.
The Archive storage class is the correct choice because it offers the lowest storage cost for archival data that is accessed less than once per year, with a 365-day minimum storage duration and retrieval costs that are higher than other classes. This aligns with the requirement to minimize storage costs while maintaining availability, as Archive data is still available for retrieval (though with a longer latency) and is replicated for durability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Nearline storage class.
Why it's wrong here
Nearline is for data accessed less than once a month, but Archive is cheaper.
- ✗
Standard storage class.
Why it's wrong here
Standard is for frequently accessed data, not cost-efficient for archival.
- ✓
Archive storage class.
Why this is correct
Archive is the lowest-cost storage class for long-term archival data.
- ✗
Coldline storage class.
Why it's wrong here
Coldline is for data accessed less than once a quarter, but Archive is cheaper.
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
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCDOE 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 PCDOE exam.