The answer is that the Archive tier has the lowest storage cost. This is correct because Azure Blob Storage access tiers are designed to balance cost and availability based on data access frequency, with Archive providing the cheapest storage for rarely accessed data at the expense of higher retrieval latency and costs. For the Microsoft Azure Developer Associate AZ-204 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how to optimize storage costs using Hot, Cool, Cold, and Archive tiers, and it often appears in scenario-based questions where you must select the most cost-effective tier for a given access pattern. A common trap is assuming you cannot change a blob’s tier after upload, but Azure allows dynamic tier changes via direct setting or lifecycle management policies, enabling cost optimization without re-uploading data. Remember the mnemonic “HCA” for cost order: Hot (highest storage cost), Cool, Archive (lowest storage cost).
AZ-204 Develop for Azure storage Practice Question
This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of develop for azure 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.
Which THREE of the following are true about Azure Blob Storage access tiers? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
You can change the access tier of a blob after it has been uploaded.
Option C is correct because Azure Blob Storage allows you to change the access tier of a blob after it has been uploaded, either by directly setting the tier on the blob or using lifecycle management policies. This flexibility enables you to optimize storage costs based on changing access patterns without re-uploading data.
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 tier has lower storage cost than Cool tier.
Why it's wrong here
Hot tier has higher storage cost than Cool tier.
✗
Archive tier allows immediate read access to blobs.
Why it's wrong here
Archive requires rehydration before reading.
✓
You can change the access tier of a blob after it has been uploaded.
Why this is correct
Access tier can be changed after upload.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Cool tier is suitable for data that is accessed infrequently (30+ days).
Why this is correct
Cool tier is optimized for infrequent access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Archive tier has the lowest storage cost.
Why this is correct
Archive tier has the lowest storage cost but high retrieval cost.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse storage cost with access cost, assuming the Hot tier is cheaper overall, or mistakenly believe Archive blobs can be read immediately after tier change, ignoring the rehydration latency.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure Blob Storage access tiers are enforced at the blob level using the x-ms-access-tier header in REST API calls. When you change a blob's tier from Archive to Hot, Azure initiates an asynchronous rehydration process that copies the blob data to a higher-tier storage node; during this time, the blob remains in Archive and cannot be read. Lifecycle management policies can automate tier transitions based on last modification time or blob index tags, reducing manual intervention.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-204 question in full detail.
Develop for Azure storage — This question tests Develop for Azure storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: You can change the access tier of a blob after it has been uploaded. — Option C is correct because Azure Blob Storage allows you to change the access tier of a blob after it has been uploaded, either by directly setting the tier on the blob or using lifecycle management policies. This flexibility enables you to optimize storage costs based on changing access patterns without re-uploading data.
What should I do if I get this AZ-204 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 →
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. Which TWO Azure Blob Storage access tiers are optimized for infrequently accessed data with a minimum storage duration of 30 days?
easy
A.Transactional
✓ B.Archive
C.Premium
✓ D.Cool
E.Hot
Why B: The Cool tier is optimized for data that is infrequently accessed and stored for at least 30 days, offering lower storage costs than Hot but higher access costs. The Archive tier is optimized for rarely accessed data with a minimum storage duration of 180 days, but it also supports infrequent access patterns and is often considered for long-term retention. Both Cool and Archive tiers are designed for infrequently accessed data, with Cool having a 30-day minimum and Archive a 180-day minimum, making them the correct answers for the 30-day requirement.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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