- A
Create a blob lifecycle management rule.
Lifecycle management automates tier changes based on object age, which fits recurring report data perfectly.
- B
Configure the rule to transition blobs from Hot to Cool after 90 days.
Hot to Cool after 90 days keeps the reports online while reducing storage costs over time.
- C
Transition the blobs to Archive after 90 days so they cost less than Cool.
Why wrong: Archive would make the reports offline and introduce rehydration delay, which the requirement explicitly rejects.
- D
Use file share snapshots because lifecycle rules do not apply to blobs.
Why wrong: File share snapshots are for Azure Files, not Blob Storage, and they do not manage blob access tiers.
- E
Enable soft delete on the container to change access tiers automatically.
Why wrong: Soft delete protects against deletion, but it does not automate tier transitions or storage-cost optimization.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. 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.
A compliance team wants newly uploaded monthly reports to remain in the Hot tier for 90 days and then move automatically to a cheaper online tier without becoming offline. Which two configurations should the administrator use? Select two.
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
Create a blob lifecycle management rule.
Option A is correct because Azure Blob Lifecycle Management rules allow administrators to automate tier transitions for blobs based on age or other conditions. Option B is correct because transitioning from Hot to Cool after 90 days meets the requirement of moving to a cheaper online tier (Cool is online and less expensive than Hot) while keeping the data accessible without becoming offline.
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.
- ✓
Create a blob lifecycle management rule.
Why this is correct
Lifecycle management automates tier changes based on object age, which fits recurring report data perfectly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Configure the rule to transition blobs from Hot to Cool after 90 days.
Why this is correct
Hot to Cool after 90 days keeps the reports online while reducing storage costs over time.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Transition the blobs to Archive after 90 days so they cost less than Cool.
Why it's wrong here
Archive would make the reports offline and introduce rehydration delay, which the requirement explicitly rejects.
- ✗
Use file share snapshots because lifecycle rules do not apply to blobs.
Why it's wrong here
File share snapshots are for Azure Files, not Blob Storage, and they do not manage blob access tiers.
- ✗
Enable soft delete on the container to change access tiers automatically.
Why it's wrong here
Soft delete protects against deletion, but it does not automate tier transitions or storage-cost optimization.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Archive tier as a 'cheaper online' option, but Archive is offline and requires rehydration, while Cool is the correct online tier for cost savings after 90 days.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Blob Lifecycle Management policies are defined as JSON rules that evaluate blob creation time or last modification time to trigger actions like tier transition or deletion. The Cool tier is an online tier with lower storage costs but higher access costs than Hot, making it ideal for data accessed infrequently but still needing low-latency retrieval. The Archive tier, by contrast, is offline and incurs rehydration costs and delays, so it is unsuitable for the 'cheaper online tier' requirement.
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.
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 AZ-104 question test?
Implement and Manage Storage — This question tests Implement and Manage Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a blob lifecycle management rule. — Option A is correct because Azure Blob Lifecycle Management rules allow administrators to automate tier transitions for blobs based on age or other conditions. Option B is correct because transitioning from Hot to Cool after 90 days meets the requirement of moving to a cheaper online tier (Cool is online and less expensive than Hot) while keeping the data accessible without becoming offline.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 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
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 AZ-104 exam.
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