- A
Object Versioning
Why wrong: Versioning keeps multiple versions of objects, but does not automate deletion or storage class transitions.
- B
Retention Policies
Why wrong: Retention policies prevent deletion, not schedule deletion or storage class changes.
- C
Bucket Lock
Why wrong: Bucket Lock is for WORM compliance, not lifecycle management.
- D
Object Lifecycle Management
Lifecycle rules can delete objects after a specified age and change storage class based on last access time (using Condition with LastAccessTime).
Question 902 of 1,000
PDE Storing the Data Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of storing the data. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An organization uses Cloud Storage to store backup files. They want to automatically delete files older than 90 days, and after deletion, move remaining files to Nearline storage if not accessed for 30 days. Which Cloud Storage feature should they configure?
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
✓
Object Lifecycle Management
Object Lifecycle Management (D) is the correct feature because it allows you to define rules to automatically transition objects to colder storage classes (such as Nearline) after a specified period of inactivity and to delete objects after a set age. In this scenario, a lifecycle rule can be configured to delete objects older than 90 days and, for the remaining objects, move them to Nearline storage if they have not been accessed for 30 days. This fully automates the required data management without manual intervention.
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.
- ✗
Object Versioning
Why it's wrong here
Versioning keeps multiple versions of objects, but does not automate deletion or storage class transitions.
- ✗
Retention Policies
Why it's wrong here
Retention policies prevent deletion, not schedule deletion or storage class changes.
- ✗
Bucket Lock
Why it's wrong here
Bucket Lock is for WORM compliance, not lifecycle management.
- ✓
Object Lifecycle Management
Why this is correct
Lifecycle rules can delete objects after a specified age and change storage class based on last access time (using Condition with LastAccessTime).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between lifecycle management (which automates transitions and deletions) and retention-related features (like Bucket Lock or Retention Policies), so the trap here is that candidates confuse 'automatically deleting old files' with 'preventing deletion,' leading them to incorrectly choose a retention-focused option.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cloud Storage Lifecycle Management uses a set of JSON or XML rules that define conditions (e.g., age, creation date, storage class) and actions (e.g., SetStorageClass to Nearline, Delete). The 'age' condition is based on the object's creation time, and the 'not accessed for 30 days' condition can be approximated using the 'last access time' metric if access tracking is enabled, though by default lifecycle rules use object age. A real-world scenario is a backup system that automatically moves weekly backups to Nearline after 30 days and deletes them after 90 days, reducing costs while ensuring compliance with data retention policies.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Object Lifecycle Management — Object Lifecycle Management (D) is the correct feature because it allows you to define rules to automatically transition objects to colder storage classes (such as Nearline) after a specified period of inactivity and to delete objects after a set age. In this scenario, a lifecycle rule can be configured to delete objects older than 90 days and, for the remaining objects, move them to Nearline storage if they have not been accessed for 30 days. This fully automates the required data management without manual intervention.
What should I do if I get this PDE 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.
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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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