- A
Set a lifecycle rule to change storage class from Standard to Nearline after 30 days for the 'raw' bucket.
Nearline has a 30-day minimum storage duration, ideal for data accessed less than once a month.
- B
Enable object versioning on all buckets to automatically delete older versions.
Why wrong: Versioning does not automatically delete; it keeps multiple versions. Lifecycle rules are needed to delete noncurrent versions.
- C
Set a partition expiration on BigQuery tables that reference data in the 'processed' bucket.
Why wrong: This applies to BigQuery, not Cloud Storage lifecycle management.
- D
Set a lifecycle rule to delete objects older than 365 days in the 'curated' and 'processed' buckets.
Deleting old data after a year helps manage storage costs.
- E
Set a lifecycle rule to change storage class from Standard to Archive after 30 days for the 'raw' bucket.
Why wrong: Archive has a 365-day minimum storage duration; Nearline (30-day min) is more appropriate for data accessed every 30 days.
PDE Storing the Data Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of storing the data. 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 has a data lake on Cloud Storage with raw data in the 'raw' bucket, curated data in 'curated', and processed data in 'processed'. They want to implement lifecycle management to reduce costs. Which TWO actions should they take? (Choose 2)
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
Set a lifecycle rule to change storage class from Standard to Nearline after 30 days for the 'raw' bucket.
Setting a lifecycle rule to change storage class from Standard to Nearline after 30 days for raw data reduces costs while maintaining access. For curated and processed data, a rule to delete objects older than 365 days helps manage costs. Option A is viable but not as cost-effective as Nearline. Option D is about BigQuery table expiration, not Cloud Storage. Option E is about versioning, not lifecycle.
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.
- ✓
Set a lifecycle rule to change storage class from Standard to Nearline after 30 days for the 'raw' bucket.
Why this is correct
Nearline has a 30-day minimum storage duration, ideal for data accessed less than once a month.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable object versioning on all buckets to automatically delete older versions.
Why it's wrong here
Versioning does not automatically delete; it keeps multiple versions. Lifecycle rules are needed to delete noncurrent versions.
- ✗
Set a partition expiration on BigQuery tables that reference data in the 'processed' bucket.
Why it's wrong here
This applies to BigQuery, not Cloud Storage lifecycle management.
- ✓
Set a lifecycle rule to delete objects older than 365 days in the 'curated' and 'processed' buckets.
Why this is correct
Deleting old data after a year helps manage storage costs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set a lifecycle rule to change storage class from Standard to Archive after 30 days for the 'raw' bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Archive has a 365-day minimum storage duration; Nearline (30-day min) is more appropriate for data accessed every 30 days.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Identify which PDE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
Storing the Data — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Storing the Data practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PDE question test?
Storing the Data — This question tests Storing the Data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set a lifecycle rule to change storage class from Standard to Nearline after 30 days for the 'raw' bucket. — Setting a lifecycle rule to change storage class from Standard to Nearline after 30 days for raw data reduces costs while maintaining access. For curated and processed data, a rule to delete objects older than 365 days helps manage costs. Option A is viable but not as cost-effective as Nearline. Option D is about BigQuery table expiration, not Cloud Storage. Option E is about versioning, not lifecycle.
What should I do if I get this PDE question wrong?
Identify which PDE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PDE 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 PDE exam.
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