- A
Keep the blobs in Hot tier permanently and delete them manually after each audit cycle.
Why wrong: Hot tier is immediately available, but it is more expensive than the team needs for infrequent access.
- B
Use a lifecycle management rule to move the blobs to Cool tier after 30 days.
Cool tier remains online and immediately readable, while costing less than Hot for infrequent access.
- C
Move the blobs to Archive tier after 30 days and rehydrate them when audits begin.
Why wrong: Archive requires rehydration before access, so it does not satisfy the immediate-read requirement.
- D
Store the files in Premium block blob storage and use snapshots for audit recovery.
Why wrong: Premium block blob storage is optimized for performance, not minimizing cost for infrequently accessed archives.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure a lifecycle management rule that moves blobs to the Cool tier after 30 days. This is correct because Azure lifecycle management automates tier transitions based on age, and the Cool tier provides the lowest storage cost while maintaining immediate, low-latency read access—critical for auditors who need files instantly without waiting for rehydration from the Archive tier. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of blob tier cost optimization and the distinction between Cool (instant access) and Archive (requires rehydration). A common trap is selecting Archive tier for cost savings, but that violates the “immediate readability” requirement. Remember the memory tip: “Cool is quick, Archive is cheap but slow.” For quarterly access with no manual moves, lifecycle rules to Cool after 30 days hit the sweet spot of cost and performance.
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.
An archive team stores legal exhibits in Azure Blob Storage. The files are downloaded only during quarterly audits, but when an auditor needs one, it must be readable immediately without waiting for a rehydration job. The team wants the lowest practical cost after the first 30 days and does not want to move blobs manually each quarter. What should the administrator configure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Use a lifecycle management rule to move the blobs to Cool tier after 30 days.
Option B is correct because Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management rules can automatically move blobs from Hot to Cool tier after 30 days, reducing storage costs while keeping data immediately accessible. Cool tier offers lower storage costs than Hot tier with the same low-latency read access, satisfying the requirement for instant auditor access without manual intervention.
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 Hot tier permanently and delete them manually after each audit cycle.
Why it's wrong here
Hot tier is immediately available, but it is more expensive than the team needs for infrequent access.
- ✓
Use a lifecycle management rule to move the blobs to Cool tier after 30 days.
Why this is correct
Cool tier remains online and immediately readable, while costing less than Hot for infrequent access.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Move the blobs to Archive tier after 30 days and rehydrate them when audits begin.
Why it's wrong here
Archive requires rehydration before access, so it does not satisfy the immediate-read requirement.
- ✗
Store the files in Premium block blob storage and use snapshots for audit recovery.
Why it's wrong here
Premium block blob storage is optimized for performance, not minimizing cost for infrequently accessed archives.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Archive tier's low storage cost with immediate accessibility, forgetting that Archive requires a rehydration step that can take hours, while Cool tier provides instant access at a slightly higher but still cost-effective rate.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure lifecycle management rules use JSON-defined policies with 'baseBlob' filters and 'tierToCool' actions, triggered daily. The Cool tier offers the same 99.9% SLA and millisecond read latency as Hot tier but at approximately 50% lower storage cost, making it ideal for quarterly-accessed data. Note that Cool tier has a 30-day minimum storage duration charge, which aligns perfectly with the 30-day transition rule.
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: Use a lifecycle management rule to move the blobs to Cool tier after 30 days. — Option B is correct because Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management rules can automatically move blobs from Hot to Cool tier after 30 days, reducing storage costs while keeping data immediately accessible. Cool tier offers lower storage costs than Hot tier with the same low-latency read access, satisfying the requirement for instant auditor access without manual intervention.
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: "first", "immediately / without restart". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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