- A
Hot
Why wrong: Hot is online and immediately readable, but it is not the lowest-cost choice for infrequently accessed data.
- B
Cool
Why wrong: Cool is meant for infrequent access, but it is usually more expensive than Cold for long-term online retention.
- C
Cold
Cold is an online tier intended for infrequently accessed data that still must remain immediately readable.
- D
Archive
Why wrong: Archive has the lowest storage cost, but data is offline and cannot be read immediately without rehydration.
Question 49 of 1,170
Choosing the Cold Tier for Blobs That Are Rarely Accessed but Need Immediate Reads
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 compliance team keeps signed contract scans in blob storage. The files are usually not accessed, but when they are needed they must be available immediately without waiting for rehydration. The team wants the lowest-cost online tier that still allows immediate reads. Which access tier should you choose?
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
✓
Cold
The Cold tier (C) is correct because it is the lowest-cost online access tier that provides immediate read access without requiring rehydration. Unlike the Archive tier, Cold tier data is always online and can be read instantly, while still offering lower storage costs than Cool or Hot tiers for data that is rarely accessed.
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
Why it's wrong here
Hot is online and immediately readable, but it is not the lowest-cost choice for infrequently accessed data.
When this WOULD be correct
A scenario where the compliance team needs the lowest latency for frequent reads and cost is not the primary concern, such as for active contract negotiations requiring instant access multiple times per day.
- ✗
Cool
Why it's wrong here
Cool is meant for infrequent access, but it is usually more expensive than Cold for long-term online retention.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for the lowest-cost tier for data that is accessed moderately frequently (e.g., monthly) and requires immediate availability, Cool tier would be correct. For example: 'You need to store monthly reports that are accessed several times a month and must be available instantly. Choose the most cost-effective online tier.'
- ✓
Cold
Why this is correct
Cold is an online tier intended for infrequently accessed data that still must remain immediately readable.
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
Why it's wrong here
Archive has the lowest storage cost, but data is offline and cannot be read immediately without rehydration.
When this WOULD be correct
For long-term backup or compliance data that is rarely accessed and can tolerate hours of retrieval delay, where lowest storage cost is the priority and immediate access is not required.
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.
✓ColdCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Cold is an online tier intended for infrequently accessed data that still must remain immediately readable.
✗HotWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Hot tier is the highest-cost online tier, not the lowest-cost. The question asks for the lowest-cost online tier that still allows immediate reads, which is Cold, not Hot.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A scenario where the compliance team needs the lowest latency for frequent reads and cost is not the primary concern, such as for active contract negotiations requiring instant access multiple times per day.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume 'Hot' is always the best for immediate access without considering cost, or they may not know that Cold tier also provides immediate reads at lower cost.
✗CoolWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Cool tier has higher storage cost than Cold tier and is not the lowest-cost online tier for infrequently accessed data. The question specifically asks for the lowest-cost online tier that allows immediate reads, and Cold tier meets that requirement at a lower storage cost than Cool.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for the lowest-cost tier for data that is accessed moderately frequently (e.g., monthly) and requires immediate availability, Cool tier would be correct. For example: 'You need to store monthly reports that are accessed several times a month and must be available instantly. Choose the most cost-effective online tier.'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume Cool is the lowest-cost online tier because it is commonly used for infrequently accessed data, but they overlook that Cold tier is even cheaper for data that is rarely accessed but still needs to be online.
✗ArchiveWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Archive tier requires rehydration (which can take hours) before data can be read, violating the requirement for immediate availability without waiting.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
For long-term backup or compliance data that is rarely accessed and can tolerate hours of retrieval delay, where lowest storage cost is the priority and immediate access is not required.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Archive is the cheapest option and assume 'rarely accessed' justifies it, overlooking the critical requirement for immediate reads without rehydration.
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 often choose Cool or Hot because they assume 'lowest cost' means Archive, forgetting that Archive is offline and requires rehydration, or they overlook the Cold tier as a newer, lower-cost online option.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Blob Storage access tiers (Hot, Cool, Cold, Archive) differ in storage cost versus access cost trade-offs. Cold tier, introduced in 2023, fills the gap between Cool and Archive, offering lower storage cost than Cool but higher read costs, with a 30-day minimum storage duration. Under the hood, Cold tier data remains on SSD-backed or HDD-backed storage with instant access, unlike Archive which uses offline tape-like storage requiring rehydration to an online tier.
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
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: Cold — The Cold tier (C) is correct because it is the lowest-cost online access tier that provides immediate read access without requiring rehydration. Unlike the Archive tier, Cold tier data is always online and can be read instantly, while still offering lower storage costs than Cool or Hot tiers for data that is rarely accessed.
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
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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