- A
Hot, because it is optimized for frequent access and always costs the least to retrieve.
Why wrong: Hot tier is designed for frequent access, but it is typically the most expensive to store. The scenario says the files are rarely accessed, so Hot is not the best cost fit.
- B
Cool, because it is for infrequent access while still keeping blobs online and immediately available.
Cool tier is meant for infrequently accessed data that still needs to remain online. It avoids archive rehydration delays, so users can open the file immediately during quarterly audits.
- C
Archive, because it is the cheapest choice for data that is rarely used and can be restored instantly.
Why wrong: Archive is not instantly accessible. Blobs in Archive must be rehydrated before they can be read, which conflicts with the requirement to open files immediately.
- D
Premium, because it is intended for workload bursts and gives the best long-term storage economics.
Why wrong: Premium storage is optimized for performance, not for low-cost long-term retention of infrequently accessed audit files. It is not the right fit for this cost pattern.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 legal department stores project video assets in Azure Blob Storage. The files are reviewed only during quarterly audits, but when someone needs a file it must open immediately without waiting for rehydration. Which access tier should the administrator use for the blobs?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"immediately / without restart"Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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
Cool, because it is for infrequent access while still keeping blobs online and immediately available.
The Cool access tier is designed for data that is infrequently accessed but must remain immediately available (online) without any rehydration delay. Since the legal department needs instant access during quarterly audits, Cool meets the requirement of low retrieval cost while keeping blobs online, unlike Archive which requires hours-long rehydration.
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.
- ✗
Hot, because it is optimized for frequent access and always costs the least to retrieve.
Why it's wrong here
Hot tier is designed for frequent access, but it is typically the most expensive to store. The scenario says the files are rarely accessed, so Hot is not the best cost fit.
- ✓
Cool, because it is for infrequent access while still keeping blobs online and immediately available.
Why this is correct
Cool tier is meant for infrequently accessed data that still needs to remain online. It avoids archive rehydration delays, so users can open the file immediately during quarterly audits.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Archive, because it is the cheapest choice for data that is rarely used and can be restored instantly.
Why it's wrong here
Archive is not instantly accessible. Blobs in Archive must be rehydrated before they can be read, which conflicts with the requirement to open files immediately.
- ✗
Premium, because it is intended for workload bursts and gives the best long-term storage economics.
Why it's wrong here
Premium storage is optimized for performance, not for low-cost long-term retention of infrequently accessed audit files. It is not the right fit for this cost pattern.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Archive thinking it is the cheapest for rarely used data, forgetting that Archive blobs are offline and require significant rehydration time, which contradicts the 'immediately available' requirement in the question.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Hot tier is designed for frequent access, but it is typically the most expensive to store. The scenario says the files are rarely accessed, so Hot is not the best cost fit.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Blob Storage access tiers (Hot, Cool, Cold, Archive) are managed at the blob level and affect both storage cost and retrieval latency. Cool tier offers lower storage cost than Hot but higher read costs; however, blobs remain online and accessible via HTTP/HTTPS without any rehydration step. The Archive tier uses offline storage and requires a rehydration operation (changing the tier to Cool or Hot) that can take up to 15 hours, making it unsuitable for scenarios requiring immediate access.
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: Cool, because it is for infrequent access while still keeping blobs online and immediately available. — The Cool access tier is designed for data that is infrequently accessed but must remain immediately available (online) without any rehydration delay. Since the legal department needs instant access during quarterly audits, Cool meets the requirement of low retrieval cost while keeping blobs online, unlike Archive which requires hours-long rehydration.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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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