Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
You need to store large files that are written once and then frequently read for the first 30 days. After 30 days, the files are rarely accessed (once or twice per year) but must remain available for 5 years. You want to minimize storage costs. Which storage tier and lifecycle management rule should you apply?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Hot tier with a lifecycle rule to move to Cool after 30 days
Hot tier provides low latency for frequent reads. After 30 days, moving to Cool reduces cost while maintaining reasonable access for rare reads.
B
Distractor review
Cool tier with a lifecycle rule to move to Archive after 30 days
Starting in Cool incurs early deletion penalties if data is deleted within 30 days, and moving to Archive after 30 days would incur higher retrieval costs for the occasional reads.
C
Distractor review
Hot tier with a lifecycle rule to move to Archive after 30 days
Moving to Archive after 30 days makes data retrieval expensive and slow, which is not ideal for 'rarely accessed' but still needed on occasion.
D
Distractor review
Archive tier with a lifecycle rule to move to Cool after 30 days
Archive tier is not writable and is meant for data that is rarely accessed; you cannot write directly to Archive tier. Also, moving to Cool would be unnecessary.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Related practice questions
Related AZ-204 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-204 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hot tier with a lifecycle rule to move to Cool after 30 days — The Hot tier is best for data accessed frequently, and the Cool tier is for infrequently accessed data with a 30-day minimum. Moving from Hot to Cool after 30 days reduces storage cost while keeping data readily accessible. The Archive tier is for long-term archival with lowest storage cost but has higher retrieval costs and latency; it is appropriate only for data that is accessed extremely rarely (e.g., < once per year) and where retrieval delays are acceptable. However, for 'rarely accessed' (once or twice per year), Cool is sufficient and more cost-effective when considering retrieval costs. Starting in Cool may incur early deletion penalties. Starting in Archive is not suitable for initial frequent access.
What should I do if I get this AZ-204 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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