Quick Answer
The answer is to configure lifecycle management rules. This is correct because Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management rules provide a policy-based mechanism to automatically transition blobs from the Hot tier to the Cool tier based on conditions like age or last modification time, directly addressing the need to reduce costs for infrequently accessed data without manual intervention. On the AZ-104 exam, this topic tests your understanding of storage optimization strategies, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must choose between replication settings, access tiers, or lifecycle policies—a common trap is confusing tier changes with blob rehydration or deletion rules. Remember that lifecycle rules can also apply to snapshots or versions, but for a simple Hot-to-Cool move after 30 days, you define a rule with a "base blob" filter and an action to change the tier. Memory tip: think "Lifecycle = Lazy Cost Cutter" to recall it automates tier transitions based on time.
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.
You need to move infrequently accessed blob data automatically from the Hot tier to the Cool tier after 30 days to reduce cost. What should you configure?
Blob soft delete
Why wrong: Soft delete protects deleted blobs and does not move blobs between tiers.
Lifecycle management rules
Lifecycle management automates tier transitions such as Hot to Cool.
A private endpoint
Why wrong: A private endpoint controls network access, not lifecycle behavior.
A CanNotDelete lock
Why wrong: A lock prevents deletion but does not change blob tiers.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Lifecycle management rules
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management rules allow you to automatically transition blobs from the Hot tier to the Cool tier based on age or other conditions. By configuring a rule that moves blobs to the Cool tier after 30 days from creation or last modification, you reduce storage costs for infrequently accessed data without manual intervention.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Blob soft delete
Why it's wrong here
Soft delete protects deleted blobs and does not move blobs between tiers.
Lifecycle management rules
Why this is correct
Lifecycle management automates tier transitions such as Hot to Cool.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
A private endpoint
Why it's wrong here
A private endpoint controls network access, not lifecycle behavior.
A CanNotDelete lock
Why it's wrong here
A lock prevents deletion but does not change blob tiers.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse blob soft delete (which only handles recovery) with lifecycle management (which handles automated tiering and deletion), leading them to choose soft delete when the question asks about cost optimization through tier transitions.
Detailed technical explanation
Lifecycle management rules are evaluated once per day and apply to blob versions, snapshots, and current blobs. The rule uses a filter set (e.g., prefix match or blob index tags) to target specific blobs, and actions include tiering to Cool, Archive, or deleting after a defined number of days. A common real-world scenario is archiving logs: you might move logs to Cool after 30 days, then to Archive after 90 days, and delete after 365 days, all in a single policy.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Implement and Manage Storage — This question tests Implement and Manage Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Lifecycle management rules — Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management rules allow you to automatically transition blobs from the Hot tier to the Cool tier based on age or other conditions. By configuring a rule that moves blobs to the Cool tier after 30 days from creation or last modification, you reduce storage costs for infrequently accessed data without manual intervention.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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