- A
Azure Blob Storage soft delete
Why wrong: Soft delete provides recovery, but does not prevent modification; immutability is required.
- B
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policy
Lifecycle management can move data to Archive tier after a period to further reduce costs.
- C
Azure Blob Storage with Cool access tier
Cool tier is low-cost for infrequently accessed data.
- D
Azure Table Storage
Why wrong: Table Storage is for structured NoSQL data, not large log files.
- E
Azure Blob Storage immutability policy
Immutability prevents modification and deletion, satisfying regulatory retention.
Question 712 of 997
Azure Blob Storage Lifecycle Management for Log Retention
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.
You are designing a solution to store large amounts of log data that will be queried infrequently but must be retained for regulatory purposes for 7 years. The logs are append-only and do not need to be modified. You need to choose a cost-effective storage option. Which three Azure capabilities should you consider? (Choose three.)
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
✓
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policy
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policy (B) is correct because it automates the transition of log data to cooler tiers (e.g., from Hot to Cool to Archive) and finally deletes it after 7 years, minimizing storage costs without manual intervention. This aligns with the requirement for infrequent querying and long-term retention.
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.
- ✗
Azure Blob Storage soft delete
Why it's wrong here
Soft delete provides recovery, but does not prevent modification; immutability is required.
- ✓
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policy
Why this is correct
Lifecycle management can move data to Archive tier after a period to further reduce costs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Azure Blob Storage with Cool access tier
Why this is correct
Cool tier is low-cost for infrequently accessed data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Azure Table Storage
Why it's wrong here
Table Storage is for structured NoSQL data, not large log files.
- ✓
Azure Blob Storage immutability policy
Why this is correct
Immutability prevents modification and deletion, satisfying regulatory retention.
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 soft delete (a recovery feature) with immutability (a compliance feature) or lifecycle management (a cost feature), leading them to select soft delete for retention when immutability policies are required for regulatory write-once-read-many (WORM) compliance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lifecycle management policies use rules based on blob age (e.g., 'daysAfterModificationGreaterThan') to transition blobs between access tiers (Hot, Cool, Archive) and trigger deletion. For append-only logs, the 'last modified time' is effectively the creation time, making it ideal for predictable tiering. The Archive tier offers the lowest storage cost but incurs a rehydration cost and latency (up to 15 hours) for access, which is acceptable for infrequent queries.
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.
- →
Develop for Azure storage — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Develop for Azure storage practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-204 question test?
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: Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policy — Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policy (B) is correct because it automates the transition of log data to cooler tiers (e.g., from Hot to Cool to Archive) and finally deletes it after 7 years, minimizing storage costs without manual intervention. This aligns with the requirement for infrequent querying and long-term retention.
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
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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