- A
Keep the blobs in the Hot tier and rely on lifecycle rules to delete them after 90 days.
Why wrong: Hot tier is unnecessary for rarely accessed archives and does not minimize storage cost.
- B
Move the blobs to the Archive tier and use high-priority rehydration when a file is requested.
Archive is the correct storage tier when the files are rarely accessed and cost reduction is the priority. Archived blobs are offline, so they cannot be read immediately. However, if auditors need one file later the same day, the administrator can initiate rehydration. High-priority rehydration is the best choice when faster access is needed for a specific archived blob and the team is willing to pay for the quicker retrieval path.
- C
Move the blobs to the Cool tier because it is offline until accessed.
Why wrong: Cool is still an online tier, so it is not the same as Archive and does not match the offline restore behavior described.
- D
Use the Cold tier because it requires a rehydration job before the blob becomes readable.
Why wrong: Cold is an online tier and does not require rehydration; archived data is the tier that must be rehydrated first.
Archive Tier: Lowest Cost Storage with High-Priority Rehydration
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. 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 records team stores monthly regulatory exports in a blob container. The files are rarely opened, but auditors may request one specific file later the same day. The team wants the lowest storage cost possible while keeping a path to restore a single file on demand. Which approach should you use?
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
Move the blobs to the Archive tier and use high-priority rehydration when a file is requested.
The Archive tier offers the lowest storage cost for rarely accessed data, and high-priority rehydration allows a single file to be restored within approximately one hour, meeting the auditor's same-day request requirement. This approach minimizes cost while retaining the ability to retrieve a specific file on demand.
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.
- ✗
Keep the blobs in the Hot tier and rely on lifecycle rules to delete them after 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Hot tier is unnecessary for rarely accessed archives and does not minimize storage cost.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be correct if the requirement was to minimize cost for frequently accessed data that must be retained for exactly 90 days and then automatically deleted, with no need for later restore.
- ✓
Move the blobs to the Archive tier and use high-priority rehydration when a file is requested.
Why this is correct
Archive is the correct storage tier when the files are rarely accessed and cost reduction is the priority. Archived blobs are offline, so they cannot be read immediately. However, if auditors need one file later the same day, the administrator can initiate rehydration. High-priority rehydration is the best choice when faster access is needed for a specific archived blob and the team is willing to pay for the quicker retrieval path.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Move the blobs to the Cool tier because it is offline until accessed.
Why it's wrong here
Cool is still an online tier, so it is not the same as Archive and does not match the offline restore behavior described.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question asked for the lowest cost for data that is accessed infrequently but must be available immediately when accessed, with no need for rehydration. For example: 'You have data that is accessed once a month and requires instant read access. Which tier minimizes cost?'
- ✗
Use the Cold tier because it requires a rehydration job before the blob becomes readable.
Why it's wrong here
Cold is an online tier and does not require rehydration; archived data is the tier that must be rehydrated first.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that files are rarely accessed and retrieval can be delayed by up to 15 hours, and cost is the primary concern, the Cold tier would be correct.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Move the blobs to the Archive tier and use high-priority rehydration when a file is requested.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Archive is the correct storage tier when the files are rarely accessed and cost reduction is the priority. Archived blobs are offline, so they cannot be read immediately. However, if auditors need one file later the same day, the administrator can initiate rehydration. High-priority rehydration is the best choice when faster access is needed for a specific archived blob and the team is willing to pay for the quicker retrieval path.
✗Keep the blobs in the Hot tier and rely on lifecycle rules to delete them after 90 days.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Hot tier has the highest storage cost, and lifecycle rules that delete after 90 days do not provide a path to restore a single file on demand after deletion. The requirement is for low-cost storage with on-demand restore, not deletion.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be correct if the requirement was to minimize cost for frequently accessed data that must be retained for exactly 90 days and then automatically deleted, with no need for later restore.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Hot tier is always the default for any blob storage, and lifecycle rules seem like a cost-saving measure, overlooking that Hot tier is expensive for rarely accessed data and deletion prevents on-demand restore.
✗Move the blobs to the Cool tier because it is offline until accessed.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Cool tier is an online tier with low latency access; it does not require rehydration and is not offline. It offers lower cost than Hot but higher than Archive, so it does not achieve the lowest storage cost for rarely accessed files.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question asked for the lowest cost for data that is accessed infrequently but must be available immediately when accessed, with no need for rehydration. For example: 'You have data that is accessed once a month and requires instant read access. Which tier minimizes cost?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'Cool' with 'Cold' or 'Archive' tiers, thinking it is offline or requires rehydration, or they may assume 'cool' implies lower cost without understanding the access trade-offs.
✗Use the Cold tier because it requires a rehydration job before the blob becomes readable.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Cold tier is offline and requires a rehydration job before reading, which can take up to 15 hours, making it unsuitable for same-day retrieval requests from auditors.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that files are rarely accessed and retrieval can be delayed by up to 15 hours, and cost is the primary concern, the Cold tier would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the Cold tier with the Archive tier, thinking both require rehydration, but Cold tier has lower cost than Cool/Hot while still being cheaper than Archive for infrequent access.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the Archive tier's offline nature with the Cool or Cold tiers, or assume that the lowest storage cost must come from an online tier, ignoring that Archive's rehydration feature still allows on-demand retrieval at a higher retrieval cost but lower overall storage expense.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Blob Storage Archive tier has a storage cost roughly 80% lower than Hot tier, but blobs are offline and require a rehydration operation to the Hot or Cool tier before reading. High-priority rehydration typically completes within one hour, while standard rehydration can take up to 15 hours, making high-priority essential for same-day auditor requests. The Archive tier also has a minimum storage duration of 180 days, but early deletion penalties are irrelevant if the data is retained long-term.
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.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
What to study next
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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: Move the blobs to the Archive tier and use high-priority rehydration when a file is requested. — The Archive tier offers the lowest storage cost for rarely accessed data, and high-priority rehydration allows a single file to be restored within approximately one hour, meeting the auditor's same-day request requirement. This approach minimizes cost while retaining the ability to retrieve a specific file on demand.
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
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on AZ-104
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A legal department stores scanned contracts that are kept for compliance and are almost never opened. They want the lowest storage cost, and it is acceptable if files take time to become available before download. Which blob tier should you choose?
easy- A.Hot
- B.Cool
- ✓ C.Archive
- D.Cold
Why C: The Archive tier is designed for data that is rarely accessed and has the lowest storage cost among Azure Blob Storage tiers. It requires rehydration (which can take up to 15 hours) before files become available, making it ideal for compliance data that is almost never opened and where delayed access is acceptable.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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